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AKCHB0L0GICAL EXCAVATIONS AT
JAMESTOWN
VIRGINIA
EDEfJAL
JUCATION
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
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ARCHEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AT
JAMESTOWN
COLONIAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND
JAMESTOWN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
VIRGINIA
By John L. Cotter
ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCH SERIES NUMBER FOUR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE "U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR • WASHINGTON • 1958
United States Department of the Interior
Fred A. Seaton, Secretary
National Park Service
Conrad L. Wirth, Director
This publication is one of a series of re-
search studies devoted to specialized topics
which have been explored in connection with
the various areas in the National Park System.
It is printed at the Government Printing Of-
fice and may be purchased from the Superin-
tendent of Documents, Government Printing
Office, Washington 25, D.C. Price $2.75
{paper cover).
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Archeological Research Series
No. 1 Archeology of the Bynum Mounds, Mississippi.
No. 2 Archeological Excavations in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado,
1950.
No. 3 Archeology of the Funeral Mound, Ocmulgee National Monument,
Georgia.
No. 4 Archeological Excavations at Jamestown, Virginia.
The National Park System, of which
Colonial National Historical Park is a unit,
is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scien-
tific, and historic heritage of the United States
for the benefit and inspiration of its people.
The Jamestown National Historic Site is
administered by the Association for the Pres-
ervation of Virginia Antiquities. By virtue
of a cooperative agreement between the Asso-
ciation and the United States, there is a joint
program of development and interpretation
for all of Jamestown and Jamestown Island.
Acknowledgments
An archeological project of the size and complexity of that carried out at Jamestown
is, of necessity, a cooperative venture calling for advice and assistance from a host of
people. In the National Park Service a great many persons rendered assistance, both
professional and administrative. The list is too long to include here, but appreciation is
expressed to Supt. Stanley W. Abbott and to the entire staff of Colonial National His-
torical Park. Special acknowledgment is made to J. Paul Hudson of the park staff for
his assistance in identifying and dating excavated objects, and for compiling the bibli-
ography.
The author wishes to express his great appreciation to Col. H. K. Roberts, Admin-
istrative Director, and to the entire Jamestown-Williamsburg-Yorktown Celebration
Commission for their support throughout the project, particularly for making possible the
publication of this report.
Also notable was the cooperation offered by the State of Virginia 350th Anniversary
Commission.
It is impractical here to try to credit all individuals and institutions outside the
National Park Service who have at one time or another abetted archeological investigations
and research at Jamestown. The final campaign and the present study were particularly
facilitated by the following:
The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities for permission to
carry out investigations on their property and for data from their records.
Dr. Leonard Carmichael, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution, for assistance of mem-
bers of his staff in consultation, notably Malcolm Watkins for ceramic identifications.
Dr. John T. Hack, geologist, U. S. Geological Survey, for helpful suggestions
regarding the erosion summary in this report.
A. Lawrence Kocher, architect, for his enthusiastic interest and advice in the archi-
tectural phase of the investigations. His, in large measure, is the creation, through artist
Sidney E. King, of the pictorial concept of the most important Jamestown structures.
Dr. Alfred Kidder, II, University Museum, Philadelphia, for reading the text and
suggesting improvements.
Virginia T. Cotter, the author's wife, for proofreading, clarifying, and for indexing.
Contents
Page
Introduction 1
Jamestown Island 3
Geological Setting 3
Problems of Erosion 3
The Aborigines 6
Flora and Fauna 8
Archeological Excavations 11
Search for the First Fort 11
Churches 17
Chancel and Churchyard Burials 22
Cemeteries and Scattered Burials 22
Pott and Knowles Tract — 1955 Investigations 24
The Country House — Ludwell House — Third and Fourth
Statehouse 25
Page
The Ambler House Complex 28
Neck of Land 31
Structures and Related Features 33
Summary 161
Bibliography (based on a compilation by J. Paul Hudson) ... 195
Appendices 201
A — Ceramics from Jamestown by Edward B. Jelks 201
B— Notes on an Indian Cranium From Jamestown by George
K. Neumann 213
C— Extracts from the APVA Year Book, 1900-1901 219
D — Pictorial Record of Excavations and Artifacts 227
E — Flora and Fauna of Early Jamestown 229
F — Artifact Tables — by Structure or Feature Numbers 233
Index 287
Illustrations
Figure Page
1. Frontispiece: Jamestown and Adjoining Mainland x
2. The Site of Jamestown 12
3. Map of Underwater Search 16
4. Plan of the Brick Church in the APVA Tract 20
5. Plan of Ludwell-Statehouse Group 26
6. Plan of Ambler House Complex 29
7. Plan of Structure 6 38
8. French Military Map of 1781 42
9. Plan of Structure 17 48
10. The "May-Hartwell" Tract 69
11. Area in vicinity of the Ambler House 75
12. Plan of Structures East of the Ambler House 76
1 3. Plan of Structure 110 107
14. Details of Structure 110 108
15. Plan of Structure 112 118
16. Plan of Structure 115 124
17. Foundation Sections of Structure 115 125
18. Foundation Sections and Details of Structure 115 126
19. Plan of Structure 117 132
20. Plan of Structure 123 138
21. Plan of Structure 125 143
22. Plan of an 18th-Century Icehouse 147
23. Section of two-handled Hispanic jug 205
24. Delft Types 207
Figure Page
25. Correlations of Pipe Shapes at Dated Features 211
26. White Pipestem Hole Diameters 211
27. White Pipestem Hole Diameters 212
28. White Pipestem Hole Diameters 212
29. Archeological Base Map Pocket
Plate Page
1 . Shore Erosion — South Shore 4
2. Shore Erosion — Hurricane Damage 5
3. Indian trade Artifacts 7
4. Woodland and Marsh 9
5. 1903 Shoreline Showing Erosion Pattern 18
6. Indian Artifacts from East of the Church 14
7. Foundations of Early Church 18
8. The Church Tower before Stabilization 19
9. Brick Church Foundations 21
10. Skeleton from Indian Burial ; 24
11. The Ludwell-Statehouse Foundations 27
12. Conjectural Drawing of the Country House-Ludwell House-
Statehouse Group 28
13. The Ambler House 30
14. West Wing of the Ambler House 30
15. Structure 32 30
16. Structure 1 — General View 34
Vll
Plate Page
17. Structure 1 Showing Associated Wall Remnants 35
18. Structure 6 Foundation after Excavation 39
19. Structure 6 — A Conjectural Drawing 39
20. Chimney Base of Structure 6 40
21. Structure 16 — Frame Structure with Brick Chimney 43
22. Structure 16 in Detail 44
23. Structure 17 after 1934 Excavations 45
24. Structure 17 Viewed from West 46
25. Structure 19A from the Northeast 52
26. Structure 19A — Conjectural Drawing 54
27. Structure 21 — Conjectural Drawing 58
28. Structure 2 1 — Detail of Fireplace 59
29. Structure 20— Curving Brick Walk 60
30. Structure 20 Overlooking the James River 61
31. Structure 26 Viewed toward the Southeast 63
32. Structure 26 During Excavating 64
33. Structure 27 Pottery Kiln 66
34. Structure 34-37 71
35. Structure 86 after Excavation 72
36. Conjectural Painting of Structure 86 73
37. Structure 33 Brick Drain 74
38. Baking Oven 74
39. Structures 30, 31, and 38 77
40. Conjectural Reconstruction of Structure 38 78
41. Structure 39 Brick Drain 81
42. Structure 40-72 82
43. Cooling Pit in Structure 72 83
44. Structures 41, 71, and 74 84
45. Structures 41 and 71 — Two Chimney Foundations 85
46. Structure 45 — North Wall and Presumed Fireplace 87
47. Structure 46 Lime Kiln 88
48. Structure 47 Lime Kiln 89
49. Structure 88 Lime Kiln 91
50. Structure 100 95
51. Brick Kiln, Structure 102 97
52. The Glasshouse Ruins 99
53. The Glasshouse Furnace and Artifacts 101
54. Structure 110 — Ruins and Conjectural Drawing 103
Plate Page
55. Structure 1 10 Fireboxes 104
56. Structure 111— Pottery Kilns and Pit Ill
57. Excavated Foundations of Structure 112 113
58. Structure 112— Cellar Details 114
59. Structure 112 — Conjectural Reconstruction 119
60. Structure 115 — Excavated Foundations 122
61. Conjectural Drawing of Structure 115 128
62. Structure 1 16 — Conjectural Drawing 130
63. Structure 123 139
64. Small Brick Kiln— Structure 127 146
65. Structure 128 149
66. Water Wells 154
67. Building Hardware 169
68. Door and Window Hardware 170
69. Brick and Roofing Materials 171
70. Tiles and Ornamental Plaster 172
71. Fireplace Tools and Accessories 173
72. Tools Used in Building and Timbering 174
73. Fanning Tools 175
74. Horse Gear 176
75. Military Weapons 177
76. Military Weapons — Broadsword and Cutlass 178
77. Lead-Glazed Earthenware 179
78. Lead-Glazed Earthenware 180
79. Locally made Lead-Glazed Earthenware 181
80. English Sgraffito- ware 182
81. Salt-Glazed Stoneware 183
82. Tin-Enameled Earthenware 184
83. Slipware and Porcelain 185
84. Glass Vials and Bottles 186
85. Wine Bottle and Seals 187
86. Wine Glasses 188
87. Metal Objects — Knives, Forks, and Spoons 189
88. Metal Objects — Buckles and Buttons 190
89. Miscellaneous Metal Objects 191
90. Miscellaneous Metal Objects — Brass Spigots and Cocks, a
Lead Tobacco Pipe, and Pewter Flask Necks 192
91. Parts of Leather Shoes and a Wooden Heel 193
92. Representative White Clay Pipes from Jamestown 210
Tables
Table Pace
I Analysis of Lime from Structure 47 90
II Chemical Analysis of Earth Samples from Structure
HO 106
III Paste and Glaze of Jamestown Ceramics 203
IV Summary of 17th- and 18th-Century Ceramics by
Cultural Traditions 204
V Measurements of Brain Case from an Indian Burial 214
Table Page
VI Measurements of the Face — Indian Burial 214
VII Cranial Indices — Indian Burial 215
VIII Class Frequencies of Cranial Indices — Piscataway
Fort and Nacotchtanke-York River 2 16
IX Comparison with Monacan and Seneca Crania .... 217
X Structure 17 Artifacts 233
XI Structure 18 Artifacts 236
V1U
Table
XII Structures 19A, 19B, and 45; Wells 4 and 11;
Ditches 17 and 18 (Lot 23, general) Artifacts. . . 237
XIII Structure 21 Artifacts 239
XIV Structure 31 Artifacts 241
XV Structures 23, 49, and 55 Artifacts 243
XVI Structure 26 and Vicinity — Artifacts 244
XVII Structures 27, 28, and 67 Artifacts 246
XVIII Structure 33 and Ditch 5 Artifacts 248
XIX Structure 40-72 Artifacts 250
XX Structures 44-53-138, 58, and 65 Artifacts 252
XXI Structures 71-74-77 and 41 Artifacts 254
XXII Structure 100 Fill Area 256
XXIII Structure 106 Artifacts 256
XXIV Structure 110, Workshop Foundation Artifacts 257
XXV Structure 111, Kilns A, B, and C— Artifacts 258
XXVI Structure 112 Artifacts 260
Table Page
XXVII Structure 115, Multiple House, Cellar 1 264
XXVIII Structure 115, Multiple House, Cellar 2 266
XXIX Structure 115, Foundation Area West of Cellars —
Units A, B, and C 268
XXX Structure 116 Artifacts 269
XXXI Structure 117, Brick Foundation with Interior But-
tresses 270
XXXII Structure 1 19 Artifacts 272
XXXIII Structure 123 Artifacts 273
XXXIV Structure 125, Brick Residence 275
XXXV Structure 127, Brick Kiln, Artifacts 277
XXXVI Structure 128, Ice Pit, Artifacts 278
XXXVII Wells 7 and 11 Artifacts 282
XXXVIII Refuse Pit 1 Artifacts 283
XXXIX Lot 47 (97:101) Including Ditches 28 and 29, and
Structure 22 Artifacts 286
lx
FIGURE 1 — Jamestown and Adjoining Mainland
Jamestown and adjoining mainland showing townsite and outlying tracts in which archeological explorations were carried on
Introduction
[Archaeology] turns into history whenever it remembers that
the objects it studies embody the thoughts and intentions of
human beings and societies. But in its own transformation,
archaeology has revolutionized history. It has enlarged the
spatial horizon of history in much the same degree as the tele-
scope enlarged astronomy's vision of space. It has extended
history's view backward in time a hundredfold, just as the
microscope revealed to biology beneath the surface of gross
bodies the lives of infinitesimal cells. Finally, it has altered the
content of historical study in much the same sort of way as
radioactivity affected chemistry. For one thing, archaeology is
largely concerned with practical everyday things, contrivances
and inventions like houses, drains, axes, and internal-combustion
engines that in themselves have affected the lives of far more
people, and that far more profoundly, than any battle or con-
spiracy, but that formerly seemed beneath the dignity of schol-
arly history.
V. Gordon Childe
Progress and Archaeology
This report is a summary of all recorded explorations in the
ground at Jamestown to 1958. The objectives here are: (1) to
arrange a comprehensive, synthesized record and interpretation
of archeological findings so far accomplished at Jamestown;
(2) to provide basic field data for further specialized research
on architecture, arts, and crafts, and on the community and
society of Jamestown at large; and (3) as a final objective, to
summarize these data so as to indicate the way of life which
was developing in Virginia during the 17th century.
In discussing archeological findings, this report makes certain
historical and architectural observations. However, it does not
attempt to present a comprehensive historical survey of James-
town, which has been the subject of research by several notable
historians. Nor can it treat in a definitive and analytical manner
the topic of architecture. In fact, an adequate report on any one
structure at Jamestown could well command an entire volume.
The first organized effort at conservation was made possible by
the donation of 22.5 acres of the site of Jamestown to the Asso-
ciation for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) in
1898 by Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Barney. From 1898 to 1934
the association was thus the agency which, with the cooperation
of the last owners of Jamestown Island, the Barney family,
maintained the site of Jamestown for public use. Most of James-
town Island came under the protection of the National Park
Service as part of Colonial National Historical Park in 1934
when the United States Government acquired all but the ground
held by the APVA. The APVA ground was designated a Na-
tional Historic Site in 1940. By means of this park and site
comprising Jamestown and Yorktown, connected by a parkway
through Williamsburg, the beginning and close of the story of
the English colonial period in this country could now be told.
Although the pioneer investigators at Jamestown did their
work before the techniques of modern archeological field work
had been devised, they recorded much valuable information.
Therefore, it is with appreciation that we cite the work of En-
gineer John Tyler, who excavated the church site east of the
standing tower in 1901; the Barney family, whose members
partially explored two house structures (Structures 17 and 117
— see page 33 for detailed listing of structures and related
features) ; Col. Samuel H. Yonge, Corps of Engineers, who
built the 1901 seawall and found the Ludwell-Statehouse row;
and George C. Gregory who partly tested Structure 17 in 1932.
From the beginning, the archeological project of the Na-
tional Park Service was conceived as a coordinated research
effort, utilizing the skills of archeologists, historians, architects,
and engineers in their respective disciplines. These specialists
made notable contributions. The fruit of a portion of their
efforts is reflected in the present study. Had it been possible to
provide uninterrupted, coordinated research in these fields for
24 years, the result would have been many reports extending far
beyond the scope of the work at hand. But the end of the
Civilian Conservation Corps cut the labor supply; the Second
World War, the Korean War, and other factors intervened to
defer the completion of site reports, museum recording, and the
integration of data gathered by archeologists and historians.
Nevertheless, while the amount of historical and specialized
research at Jamestown has not been vast, it has been substantial,
as the published and unpublished reports of personnel listed in
the bibliography will testify. While far less has been written on
the settlement of Virginia than on that of New England, James-
town has had the benefit of research by several outstanding
scholars. It is hoped that the impetus of new archival and
archeological data, together with many completed and planned
specialized studies of various phases of 17th-century settlement
here will encourage further efforts to describe the remarkable
adaptation of these early settlers to the New World.
As in most initial efforts in the research field — and appro-
priately at this star-crossed settlement — fulfillment at Jamestown
has often fallen short of hope. Yet, very definite progress has
been made, and Jamestown can rightfully take its place as the
pioneering project in the field of American Colonial Archeology.
A great many people participated in the various phases of
the Jamestown studies since the National Park Service began
its active program of research in 1934, and no attempt will be
made here to review the history of the project, or to name the
many persons who had a part in it. Particularly notable, how-
ever, is the work of J. C. Harrington, who directed the com-
bined research program for Jamestown from 1936 through
1941 ; the outstanding historical research carried on by Charles
E. Hatch, Jr. ; and J. Paul Hudson's contributions to our knowl-
edge of colonial artifacts.
In the course of this program, a great many reports were
prepared. Most of these, particularly the detailed archeological
reports, were never published. They are all available, however,
in manuscript form at Colonial National Historical Park, Va.
These reports, along with published articles on the Jamestown
research, are listed in the bibliography.
In 1954 a concentrated drive to complete essential field work
was organized by the National Park Service with financial
assistance of the Federal Jamestown-Williamsburg-Yorktown
Celebration Commission and the State of Virginia 350th Anni-
versary Commission. In all, 13 acres of the townsite were sys-
tematically explored by means of 6 miles of trenches, 3 feet
wide, on a 50-foot interval grid. The grid system at Jamestown
Island was based upon true north and tied to the corner of the
bottom northeast step of the old base of the Tercentenary
Monument at the North 10,000- East 10,000-foot juncture.
Since the 0-0 point was located well off the island to the south-
west, every point on the island can be located so many feet
north and east of this prime reference. Thus, Lot 100:000 is
the 100-foot square north of North 10,000 and east of East
10,000 in which Ditches 82 and 86 are located. Lots excavated
before 1936 have whole numbers.
Although the exact extent of what could be called the town-
site boundaries of Jamestown has never been determined, it is
reasonable to assume from what is now known that the 20
acres explored since 1901 (the date when the Association for
the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities initiated excavations at
Jamestown) cover most of the area of occupation. Approxi-
mately half of this tested acreage has not been fully uncovered,
so that it may be said that the Jamestown area has not been
more than half-excavated, at best, and much evidence remains
for later checks and controls.
The 1954-56 projects and their locations were as follows:
Project No. Location Area
100 Jamestown Island First Fort (APVA Grounds)
102 Jamestown Island "James Citty"- — south
103 Jamestown Island "James Citty" — southeast
104 Jamestown Island "James Citty" — northeast
105 Jamestown Island Ludwell-Statehouse
108 Jamestown Island Tour Road
110 Mainland Glasshouse Point (Parkway Salvage)
114 Mainland Neck of Land
116 Mainland Parkway (other than 110)
194 Jamestown Island "James Citty" — north
232 Jamestown Island First Fort (underwater search)
235 Jamestown Island Elay-Swann tract (First Fort)
This work included the early cemetery area of the third ridge,
beneath and around the Ludwell-Statehouse row, tests offshore
on the hypothetical First Fort site of 1607, and again, for First
Fort evidence beneath the southern portion of the 1862 Con-
federate Fort, near the church tower. The balance of these ex-
plorations was located north and south of the Tercentenary
Monument between Pitch and Tar Swamp and the James River,*
and east across the known extent of Jamestown to Orchard
Run.** These tests were all in Unit B, south of Pitch and Tar
Swamp. Minor tests were conducted east of Orchard Run and in
Unit A, north of Pitch and Tar Swamp, in order to complete
data obtained in previous National Park Service explorations.
* Ditches 82, 83, 85, and 86 and one partly denned structural indica-
tion (Structure 114), possibly a burned frame house, were recorded.
** The late 19th-century second Barney homesite (Structure 137)
north of Orchard Run has been noted on the master map at Jamestown
but is not cited here.
Jamestown Island
GEOLOGICAL SETTING
During early Pleistocene days, the level of the sea at Tide-
water Virginia was at least 200 feet lower, relative to the land,
than it is today (1957) . This fact is attested by the basal gravels
that can be traced in borings for footings of bridges such as
the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the Yorktown Bridge across
the York River. Thus, the James and York Rivers flowed in
deeper and more sharply cut channels and emptied into the sea
at locations now far beyond present shores.
As the level of the sea rose and the river mouths became
drowned by tidewaters, the channel mainly followed the ancient
river course. Shallow water spread wide over the lower beaches.
Tides and wave-generated currents pushed sandy sediments
along the shoals. Typically, the shoals developed sandy bars
which progressed slowly eastward, eroding at the head and
depositing at the foot. Beginning probably in late Pleistocene
times, a series of these shoals or sandy bars formed Jamestown
Island considerably upstream from its present location.
Within the last few thousand years, the shore-hugging shoals
had developed to a point where they "captured" the channel
of Powhatan Creek at the point where it entered the James
River and carried the flow down between the north bank of
the James and the shoals. The stream then emptied into the
main river 3 miles farther down.
As shore erosion continued, the shoal became a peninsula
extending downstream from the mainland of the York Penin-
sula with Powhatan Creek on its north side and the James River
on the south.
By 1607 the neck of this shoal-peninsula had narrowed to
a near breakthrough due to continuous erosion of the upstream
exposure which was met by strong currents and winds. The
main portion of the peninsula was a continuous strip of firm
land based on more than 300 feet of fine sand and topped with
a few feet of clay and silt merging into topsoil at a maximum
elevation of less than 20 feet above mean low tide. The strip
extended southeast from Glasshouse Point, widened past the
narrow isthmus neck at the old mouth of Powhatan Creek and
turned east at Orchard Run, where it extended in almost a
straight line to Black Point. South of the older peninsula escarp-
ment, deposits were building up in new sandbar formations.
These extended like fingers northeastward from a sandy beach.
Between these fingers marshes gathered into a sluggish, me-
andering outlet (Passmore Creek) at the foot of the formation.
On the Powhatan Creek side of the subpeninsula, other
marshes developed. In these marshes, the largest of which was
"Pitch and Tar Swamp," bog iron was deposited. Tall Virginia
pines and a preponderance of mature, deciduous trees grew on
firm land between the marshes. The marshes were filled with
reeds and tall marsh grasses. Along the edges and at the mouths
grew cypresses, always the last to yield to the inevitable erosion
cycle.
The settlers selected the Jamestown "Island" location because
the channel of the James River passed close to shore on the
northwestern (upstream or headward) end. Thus, ships were
able to lie in deep water while moored to the trees on shore.
This projection of land was bounded on the north by Pitch and
Tar Swamp which entered the river to the west through "The
Vale" and on the southeast by an inward (north) curving of
the shore. On this projection the settlers built the first fort.
However, the fort site eroded rapidly and by the time the
modern seawall was finished, in 1903, the river had claimed
approximately 500 feet of land. This left only a slight pro-
montory known as Church Point opposite the present brick
church tower.
In the 17th century when the fort (later Church Point) pro-
montory was intact, the shore downstream from it was gently
curved and largely protected from the most erosive river cur-
rents. However, during hurricane seasons and later, when large
steamers plied the river creating waves, a certain amount of
erosion did occur here. This is shown by photographs taken in
the early 1900's and in 1934 before the construction of the
present granite boulder riprap was completed. In these pictures
and in reports made by engineers and archeologists in the early
1930's, the toppling of trees onto the beach is noted, and the
riprap itself testifies to the considered need for shore protection.
Therefore, erosion below Church Point to Orchard Run was
not less than 150 feet from the 17th to the 20th century.
PROBLEMS OF EROSION
It has been pointed out that erosion at the head of the island
has been most severe. The maximum destruction has been on
the northwest exposure where the First Fort was built on a pro-
jection of the main island scarp as it extended almost to the
channel in 1607. This projection — 400 to 500 feet beyond
the present seawall opposite the Confederate Fort — was the
northwest arm of a crescent-shaped shoreline that continued a
PLATE 1 — Shore Erosion — South Shore
Upper. — The south shore from the ferry pier. Photo taken before the riprap wall was erected in 1935.
Lower. — South shore in 1935, before start of riprap shore protection project by Civilian Conservation Corps and National Park Service. Note the fallen
tree and other evidence of severe erosion. Camera was on the ferry pier, located in Lot 95:100.
It"*--
PLATE 2 — Shore Erosion — Hurricane Damage
Upper. — This hurricane damage justified the need for the riprap shore protection which was carried out in 1935 (location near Structure 17).
Lower. — Hurricane damage to the south shore of Jamestown in 1926, just upstream from the ferry pier. View shows a brick flooring at, or slightly
east of, Structure 26 which was excavated in 1935. The picture is copied from a print supplied by Mr. Clyde Holmes of Williamsburg, Va.
quarter of a mile down-river beyond Orchard Run. Thus, the
embayment was protected from the prevailing wind and down-
river ebb tide acceleration as long as the arm on which the
First Fort stood remained intact.
Erosion at the waterfront between the churchyard and Or-
chard Run was probably at a minimum in the 17th century.
A shallow shelf between the shore and the channel was covered
with 3 to 6 feet of water, depending on tidal extremes. Num-
erous wharfs, extending from shore toward the channel were
clustered on this shelf. In fact, these wharf pilings were so
numerous toward the end of the 17th century that they were
considered hazardous.
It is even possible that the projecting northwest arm con-
tinued to protect the crescent shoreline by slowing down the
water with its sedimentary burden so as to make it deposit,
rather than erode, along the shallow shelf. Likewise, the piers
had an effect of slowing down the water. However, as the First
Fort site disappeared into the river in the 18th century, this
protective arresting of wind and wave action grew less and less.
The gently curving shoreline was increasingly exposed to wash
waves from passing steamers as well as the usual wind and ebb
currents. The former was noted by Yonge, although he mini-
mized the erosion of the crescent shoreline of "James Citty"
(Yonge, 1903).
By 1906, when the seawall was completed, the last remnant
of the projecting northwest arm (known as "Church Point")
had been removed to give a continuous unbroken line to the
seawall. Before 1906 there had been at least 200 years of
steadily increasing erosion of the south shore between Church
Point and Orchard Run. After 1906, with the removal of the
northwest arm, the erosion was completely unchecked for almost
three decades.
Hurricanes which visited the island periodically in the first
third of the 20th century created erosion which has been docu-
mented with photographs and commentary. Views taken in the
mid-twenties and early thirties, after storms, show trees toppled
into the river at points easily identifiable from opposite Struc-
ture 26 to opposite Structure 21. Earlier photographs taken by
the Barneys about 1900 show an eroding shoreline at that time
as well. In 1934 a study was made which convinced the Na-
tional Park Service that a riprap must be built without delay
from below Orchard Run to the east end of the seawall. Even
after this riprap of granite boulder rubble was finished, an
April storm in 1935 caused great slumping behind the riprap
which had to be stabilized with a fill of concrete debris.
Here are some illuminating accounts from National Park
Service records at Colonial National Historical Park in the mid-
thirties:
August 19, 1932 — Gerard Banks, ranger-naturalist, in "Mem-
orandum on the Erosion at Jamestown Island":
Along the shore southeast of the pier, there are many small ravines.
They have eroded the banks 10 to 15 feet back from the beach. This
type of erosion is due to surface elements such as run-off water and
organic agencies.
At frequent intervals trees have fallen over on the beach. The soil
in which the trees stood was weakened by ground water or was entirely
removed by wave action. The caretaker at Jamestown relates an inci-
dent concerning the position of a tree about midway along the island
shore, observed in 1914 and later in 1918 — a period of 4 years — and
his estimate is that the strand line moved inward about 15 feet during
that time. Such erosion, of course, is exceptional. The rate of erosion
varies from year to year according to the heights of the tides and to the
frequency of storms. A close estimate would be that the strand line
creeps inward along the entire river front an average of 5 inches a year.
Less than an inch of this erosion is due to river current. The remainder
is caused by wave action and run-off water.
January 2, 1935 — Charles E. Peterson, historical architect, in
"Memorandum for The Director":
I was very much surprised to note that Mr. Gregory (George C.
Gregory, who originally identified Structure 17, center, as the First
Statehouse.) feels the shore line below the ferry slip is still on the 1607
location. I had always understood that this section of shore line was
retreating rapidly and that every storm carried away several more feet
of earth.
Final construction report for Section A, Riprap Shore Pro-
tection Wall, Jamestown Island, Virginia, F. P. 609, Contract
No. I-lP-3110:
p. 5. . . . along Section A on the James River the water had en-
croached on the mainland from 7 to 11 feet during the same storm,
[i.e., storm of August, 1935].
The only contrary evidence unearthed during archeological
investigations is that of Structure 26 foundation, which can be
interpreted as having been built on the actual sloping bank of
the river (see more detailed discussion under Structure 26).
The southern (riverward) footing of this 50 by 16 foot struc-
ture is considerably lower in base course level than the north
wall — in fact, the lower footing (1935) was below the high-
water mark. Since much sandy filling has taken place behind
the riprap, it is difficult to tell today just how the original
land sloped to the river and how it may have been interspersed
with erosional depressions.
THE ABORIGINES
It is an interesting fact that man antedated Jamestown Island
itself. Evidence exists on the York Peninsula at Indian Fields
Creek that the ancient Indian was there with his delicately-
chipped blade shaped like a laurel leaf, and atlatal or spear,
quite probably in excess of 7,000 years ago. Before 1607 the
Algonquians had certainly frequented the island. At the time of
discovery, they had recently become the Powhatan Confederacy
in the York Peninsula and adjacent mainland to the north. The
fact that the settlers did not find Indians encamped on the
island indicates that the campsite discovered beneath the 17th-
century soil zone, and in turn covered by the Confederate Fort
near the church, had been abandoned some time previously.
However, soil evidence indicates the occupation was within 100
years previous to 1607.
This Jamestown Island Indian site was characterized by
6
00^ ■ n ^ -•"■- .»»■»-"*§
/
.
-:r ■■;
PLATE 3— Indian Trade Artifacts
Artifacts from Jamestown 17th-century contexts which relate to the Indian trade. Shown here are beads, bells, hatchet, brass pan, scissors, knives.
pressure-flaked, stemmed projectile points made of quartzite
(large and small), together with shell- and sand-tempered
pottery, all cord impressed. The cultural evidence may be
characterized as "Late Woodland," a term of singular termino-
logical vacuity applied by archeologists in reference to the latest
prehistoric evidence on the Atlantic coast north of Florida. We
may confidently suppose that culturally these Indians were
nearly identical with the southern Algonquians of the early
settlers' acquaintance.
Both archeologists (i.e., anthropologists) and historians pay
tribute to the debt generated by the European immigrants in
North America to the native Indians and their culture. Rarely,
however, has this debt been spelled out and given proper recog-
nition— certainly not in the Jamestown annals. In this archeo-
logical report, it is necessary only to observe that, despite the
best efforts of the Indians to exterminate the settlers — and their
reasons are easily understandable — the economy of the Indians
at times saved the settlers and contributed to the economic
foundation of Virginia. Corn, and the aboriginal method of
planting and cultivating it, kept the settlers alive during the
first years and thereafter provided a continuing staple food.
Tobacco later became vital to trade. (See Hallowell, 1957.)
The widespread use of mobile, lightly armed infantry in war-
fare in 17th-century Virginia placed the colonists a hundred
years ahead of Europe in military armament — thanks to the
Indian.
FLORA AND FAUNA
AS FIRST OBSERVED BY THE SETTLERS*
Jamestown Island lies near the southern border of the North
Temperate Zone. Some geologists believe that the climate was
perceptibly cooler in 1607 than it is in mid-20th century. If
the climate was cooler, it is probable that there was more ice
in polar regions. The sea level then would have been slightly
lower, leaving somewhat less marshland and more meadow than
at present. Then, as now, the violence of seasonal change
characterized the late spring and the autumn months of Septem-
ber and October. The destructive force of hurricanes, already
familiar to Europeans in the West Indies, was soon recognized
by the settlers in Tidewater Virginia. The summers were hot
and humid, and the winter months of January and February
were often bitter.
Flora
The chief difference between the days of discovery and today
lay in the ecological balance which had been relatively little
affected by the presence of aboriginal man. Probably less than
9,000 aborigines occupied all of tidewater Virginia at the time
of discovery. These aborigines burned off tracts of timber for
cultivation of corn and other crops and occasionally they would
start an animal stampede by a trap of fire in the dry fallen
leaves of autumn, for hunting purposes. Although these prac-
tices reduced the forests and their underbrush here and there,
the effect was minor on the mature virgin forests. John Smith
and other early narrators commented on the openness of the
forests, the mature trees standing at relatively great distance
from each other, but with such dense crowning cover that under-
brush was nearly absent. The Indians depleted the forests
where they settled, but they frequently moved to new land.
Archeological observation quickly attests that at no one place
did occupation last long enough to leave deep deposits of human
detritus. The generally humid tidewater Virginia region was
characterized, more than now, by broadleaf forest cover which
also permitted pine, redcedar and other evergreens. For de-
tailed listing of flora, see Appendix E.
Fauna
The fauna of Tidewater Virginia has certainly changed since
early American times, as well as the abundance of many food
fishes. These conditions make identification of species diffi-
cult because common names in use today often differ consider-
ably from those used in the 17th century. Without factual data
in the form of descriptions, illustrations, or specimens, we can
* The observations on flora and fauna are taken largely from Philip
A. Bruce's Economic History of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century
(Bruce, 1895), and from the observations of John Smith (Smith, 1884)
and Thomas Hariot (Hariot, 1951).
only surmise in certain instances. Following is a general dis-
cussion of the fauna known to the Jamestown settlers. Addi-
tional commentary and detailed listings are in Appendix E.
The bounty of fish in the tidewaters was impressive in the
days of settlement, especially in spawning season. Shads and
sturgeon threatened nets and the latter were even killed with
axes near Jamestown (Rolfe, 1951, p. 36). John Smith was
impressed by a pneumatic fish (perhaps the spiny boxfish) and
fancied himself lost when stung by a stingray.
Important items of food for prehistoric and historic inhabi-
tants were mollusks and crustaceans. Oysters were impressively
large and numerous and were especially fancied by the settlers.
Of the crustaceans, the succulent blue crab (one species having
great size and much meat) was abundant.
Archeological evidence at Jamestown shows that oysters were
used not only for food, but for building purposes. Shells are
usually present in fills of all types, and in the very mortar and
plaster and pargetry of the houses. Oyster shells were the
common source for lime from the founding days of the settle-
ment to the abandonment of Jamestown.
In contrast to the abundant archeological evidence showing
the use of oysters, traces of fish are rare because of the acid
soil and the perishability of fish bones.
Of reptiles and amphibians then common in the Tidewater,
most important economically were the turtles. Especially
common was the land tortoise. Its carapace is frequently en-
countered at Jamestown and in prehistoric aboriginal sites.
Strachey mentioned the latter as eaten daily by the settlers
(Strachey, 1953, p. 128). Oddly, frogs (bull and tree) are
not recorded as items of diet. If they were not eaten, it was
because of cultural aversion, not gustatory choice. At least
they should have been appreciated during the Starving Time,
1609-10.
On the debit side, Jamestown did have some poisonous snakes,
notably the copperhead, rattlesnake, and water moccasin. But
most of the snakes — puff adder, corn snake, black snake, and
horn snake — were harmless and beneficial. (Neither these
snakes nor any other natural enemy could control the European
brown rat — this hardy rodent, arriving with the settlers, quickly
established itself in Virginia and did grievous damage. It still
does ! )
Of all the fauna, possibly birds most impressed the settlers.
Wild fowl, like fish, were present in the Tidewater in truly
fabulous numbers, especially in migratory seasons. They were
drawn to the rivers, marshes, and sounds by the abundant
Crustacea and lush aquatic vegetation such as wild celery and
oats.
Mammals also roamed in great numbers in the Tidewater
region. A prime source of meat for Indians and Jamestown
settlers was the Virginia or white-tailed deer. In 1610, the
author of the True Declaration of Virginia (Force, 1836-46,
Vol. Ill, p. 13) stated that "hard by the fort, two hundred in
one herd have been usually observed." Despite the depredations
of civilization and astronomical numbers of ticks, this incredibly
8
>i
v.- n •
s| ■; p X
PLATE 4— Woodland and Marsh
Upper. — A young, even-aged stand of pine near the large Confederate Fort located in the upper reaches of Passmore Creek on land which was once the
southern side of the Travis Tract. Most of the dry land which would support a crop was in cultivation up to 1925. This view was taken about 1934.
Lower. — Typical marsh grass in the middle and eastern reaches of Pitch and Tar Swamp. Note muskrat houses in the middle background.
persistent animal is still numerous on the York Peninsula and was on. It doubtless carried the principal fever — more likely
on Jamestown Island. Other land mammals mentioned in early yellow fever than malaria, because the settlers became "seasoned"
17th-century references are elk, eastern bison, wolf, black bear, to it if they survived.
dog, gray fox, and cougar. The tick (not an insect but an arachnid) is presumably a
Little descriptive material on insects is available. Plainly, the recent import. Had it been present, the settlers would certainly
insect which most concerned the settlers was the indigenous have described this greatest present threat — with mayflies a
mosquito which smote them early and often, when the season close second — to human comfort at Jamestown.
10
Archeological Excavations
THE SEARCH FOR THE FIRST FORT
(PROJECTS 100, 232, AND 235)
During the 1955 excavation season, Dr. Joel L. Shiner, under
the direction of John L. Cotter, completed three projects
designed to find traces of the First Fort of 1607.
Project 100
The work of this project encompassed the area of the Con-
federate Fort of 1861 to the seawall west of the Church, where
testing was done in the interior of the fort and beneath the
south embankment. No recognizable trace of the First Fort
was found, although many data of interest relating to early
17th-century occupation were recorded. A 17th-century soil
zone overlay an Indian occupational zone (now displayed in an
in place exhibit). Also recorded were several ditch traces and
an armorer's forge pit dating from the first quarter of the 17th
century.
Following is an abstract of Shiner's report on Project 100,
which is available in manuscript form at Colonial National
Historical Park (Shiner, 1955). For many years the leading
question at Jamestown was whether or not a trace of the First
Fort still existed on land, possibly beneath the Confederate Fort
of 1861. The problem in 1954 was to find if such traces
remained beneath the 17th-century soil zone protected by the
later earthwork. (It was already known that artifact and burial
traces were uncovered when Confederate troops built the fort
and accumulated earth for the embankments from within the
fort enclosure and from the moat which surrounded the em-
bankments.)
Historical records state that the First Fort was built entirely
of logs, timber, and earth. Shiner writes:
There was a ditch on the exterior and behind the ditch, on the inside,
a log palisade. Each of the 3 corners had a raised bastion. These fea-
tures made it imperative that excavation techniques be designed to detect
ditches and post holes. The best way of doing this seemed to be to
clear the soil to the old soil zone, or to native clay, and smooth the
floor and walls of the trench. This would show horizontal and vertical
profiles of ditches and post holes. [Fortunately, local soil conditions
made differentiation of zones and soil types practicable.]
Test pits 1 through 10 gave information on the native clay, the sea
cliff, that was cutting into the island and the fill that had been thrown
in behind the seawall.
Test pits 11 and 12 encountered the first undisturbed strata of Colo-
nial trash. They appeared at the edge of the Confederate earthworks
on the west side of the Confederate Fort. Colonial trash, where undis-
turbed, was usually about 1 foot thick. It was preserved under the
Confederate earthworks and was usually destroyed at most points away
from them. After a number of pits and trenches had been excavated in
the vicinity of the Confederate Fort it became apparent that earth for
the construction of the earthwork was obtained from both inside and
outside the Fort. The interior of the (Confederate) Fort was scraped
down to the native clay and the dirt thus obtained was piled on the
earthworks. Colonial artifacts (pipestems, ceramics and brick frag-
ments) are to be found throughout the soil of the Confederate earth-
work. Even so, it was never a problem to distinguish between Colonial
trash and the earthwork.
Test Pit 11: The corner earthwork near the Relic House [modern
APVA Structure standing in 1955] had been considered by some of
those interested in the problem as the north bastion of James Fort. Test
Pit 11 was a trench cut through the earthwork down to sterile clay.
The cross section showed a number of interesting features, but none of
them related to the James Fort. The height of the mound was due to
earth piled on in 186 1. Beneath the Civil War earth was a stratum of
Colonial trash between 12 and 18 inches in thickness. Also, beneath
the earthwork was a small ditch [Ditch 89]. It was slightly more than
two feet wide and about one foot deep. . . . The ditch . . . seems . . .
to have been a property line ditch since it was on high ground that did
not need draining and later had a fence built along it. [Four post
holes were found in the fill of Ditch 89.]
A terminal date for . . . [Ditch 89] might be obtained by dating the
trash that accumulated in the ditch. Since few of the artifacts had been
sufficiently preserved to warrant close dating, only a tentative date can
be given to the trash. It appears to be about the second quarter of the
seventeenth century.
Test Pit 12: Test pit 12 extended to the southeast across the center
of the Confederate Fort. A probable property line ditch [Ditch 90]
was found about 20 feet to the east of the west earthworks. In position
as well as direction, the ditch conforms to a boundary of a parcel of
land acquired by Edward Clinton in 1683. [East of Ditch 90 the Con-
federates had removed the Colonial topsoil to build the earthwork.]
Structure 139: This was the most important find made
within the area of the Confederate Fort. It was a forge pit dug
into native clay and encountered 90 feet from the west earth-
work. Shiner reconstructs the evidence to show that this feature
was a forge pit with probably a building over it in existence by
1620. By the end of the 17th century, the structure had fallen
into ruins, and by 1861, what may have remained in the 17th-
century soil zone was scraped away into an earthwork so that
only the pit remained.
In the pit were found many separate parts of guns and
swords along with charcoal, cinders, slag, and runlets of lead
and brass. The type and profusion of the gun fragments
indicated the process of converting matchlocks to the newer
flint arms and permitted the accurate dating of the feature.
11
N-10,000
LEGE SI D
Area explored 1934- 1941
MM Area explored 1954-1956
SCALE IN FEET
FIGURE 2 — The Site of Jamestown
The site of Jamestown showing areas explored during two major periods of archeological activity.
Test Pit 18: A test opened in the south side of the Con-
federate Fort in Lot 98:95 provided data on 3 sharply con-
trasting occupational zones: Confederate Fort fill, a 17th-century
humus zone and, beneath this, a well-defined earlier humus zone
containing Indian artifacts. Two intersecting ditches were also
revealed: Ditch 93, L-shaped, adjoining Ditch 94, a straight
ditch. The colonial zone was excavated in 3 arbitrary levels
designated "late" (top), "middle," and "early" (the lowest).
Shiner could observe no internal stratigraphy here, but it was
hoped that some artifact differentiation might result from the
3-part division. The results showed that the upper stratum
had a thin veneer of 18th-century materials, but the majority
of the following artifacts date from the latter half of the 17th
century:
UPPER LEVEL
(all evidence in fragments)
Dutch gin bottle
Oriental porcelain
Delftware
Sgraffito (English) ware
Slip decorated ware
Delft wall tile
Roofing tile (local?)
Lead-glazed earthenware (local?)
German stoneware, salt-glazed
White tobacco pipes
Local brown clay pipes
Wrought-iron nails
Copper tubing
Iron lock spring
The following middle level artifacts represent the interval of
about 1640 and 1670. No 18th-century materials occurred.
The change from late to middle level was barely perceptible.
MIDDLE LEVEL
North Devon coarse- tempered ware, lead-glazed
Local earthenware, lead-glazed
Delftware
12
P*?^'-***!
-
=?»*»i&
PLATE 5 — 7903 Shoreline Erosion Pattern at Confederate Fort
View from off shore prior to the erection of the seawall in 1903. Estimated date is about 1900-1901 when the first attempt at stabilizing the shore
(here shown) had failed. The erosion pattern clearly shows the line of the original or pre- 1861 humus layer (above the vertical erosion scars). Beneath
this surface lay the colonial deposit and beneath that, an Indian occupational zone, showing that deposition had continued through the 17th century on a
natural eminence which once stretched into the river toward the channel as Church Point.
Sgraffito (English) ware
English slate
English flint
Wine bottles
White tobacco pipes
German salt-glazed stoneware
Dutch gin bottle
Window glass
Locally-made pipes, brown clay
Wrought-iron nails
Iron fragments
All of the following early zone material could be early 17th-
century — none definitely late or middle 17th-century:
LOWER LEVEL
(just above Indian Zone)
North Devon coarse-tempered, lead-glazed ware
Lead-glazed earthenware (local?)
Delftware
English flint
Dutch gin bottles
White clay tobacco pipes
Locally made brown clay pipes
Building hardware fragments
Wrought-iron nails
Brass spoon
Shiner records some observations for a small ditch in the
No. 18 test which is undoubtedly Ditch 93, although he does
not place it exactly. A profile of this ditch showed that it had
been dug after some colonial refuse had accumulated above the
zone of Indian debris. The refuse through which the ditch had
been cut was that designated "early" in the test. In general,
the ditch artifacts corresponded closely to those of the "middle"
test zone, with several exceptions, some being of the early
17th century. The ditch artifacts included a cannon ball which
could have been used in a 4l/2 inch demiculverin ; a lock from
an early musket; an early sword guard; and a brass counter, the
last of the type used in monetary calculations and tentatively
dated between 1550 and 1650.
13
V
mj
A
PLATE 6 — Indian Artifacts from East of the Church
A selection of Indian artifacts found at Jamestown during excavations carried out between 1934 and 1954, mainly in the area
east of the church. The pottery is woven fabric and cord marked.
Shiner concludes:
Evidently the ditch had been filled in first with relatively early trash
and later with more recent trash. As has been recorded several times
at Jamestown, the upper part of the ditch had been filled in with brick
rubble. This was not part of a building, but rubble brought in to finish
filling the ditch.
Indian Habitation Zone: On the basis of several small
test pits east, west, and north of Test Pit 18, the Indian habita-
tion site was estimated to be at least 110 feet long and at least
70 feet wide. Probably it was considerably larger. Ostensibly
the prehistoric Indians selected this location for a campsite.
In addition, no other comparable Indian site has been found
in the extensive excavations on Jamestown Island. These facts
give significant support to the assumption that the settlers also
picked the most favorable land upon which to begin their
occupation, namely Church Point, prior to erosion. As for the
Indian occupation itself, Shiner observes:
Since no Indian site was recorded for Jamestown Island, and John
Smith had been carefully recording villages, the year 1607 would be a
terminal date for the occupation. The lack of any hint of a discon-
formity between the Indian and Colonial strata makes it appear that the
occupation must have terminated not more than 10 or 20 years earlier
than 1607.
14
Ceramic evidence is based on 306 sherds, of which 255
(83.8 percent) were shell-tempered, 49 sherds (16.2 percent),
sand- or crushed rock-tempered. In general, the paste of the
pottery was quite soft and the surface decoration had eroded
somewhat. This made it difficult to tell cord marking from
fabric marking, so that 164 sherds only could be classified as
to surface treatment. A tabular summary from Shiner's report
follows:
Shell temper
Sherds
Sand temper
Sherds
% (based on
type of sur-
face treatment)
Fabric impression
Cord marked
45 sherds . . .
71 sherds . . .
8 sherds . . .
8 sherds . . .
14 sherds
12 sherds
5 sherds ....
1 sherd
36
50
8
5
Totals
132
32
99
Presumably the shell-tempered pottery could be assigned to
the Chickahominy series described by Evans (1955, pp. 1—164).
The sand-tempered sherds cannot be assigned, as yet.
Lithic flaked blades are both triangular (small) and stemmed
(various sizes). The material is mostly quartzite, brown to
reddish in color, and some white quartz float. The smaller
triangular pieces are easily assigned to the late period, into the
historic horizon. The stemmed pieces, some of which are of
good size (originally over 5 inches long), may suggest certain
archaic types known in the Appalachian area. Stanley South,
archeologist with the North Carolina Department of Archives
and History, informed the writer that one specimen of the
larger, pointed stem type with wide, subtriangular blade of
quartzite is called the Morrow Mountain Point. This type came
from excavations conducted by Dr. Joffre Coe, of the University
of North Carolina, in which this point is in a very early context.
The Morrow Mountain type in North Carolina is known
stratigraphically to be located below a deposit containing the
Halifax point type which has a Carbon 14 date of 5,440, plus
or minus 200 years, before the present.
Jamestown Island, in all probability, did not exist at all in
either its present or in its 1607 form and location 5,000 years
ago. Also, the Jamestown point is in a deposit demonstrably
close to the contact period. Therefore, we have here a reminder
that typological definitions of culture and dating are tricky, at
best. We strongly suspect that archaic types of lithic artifacts
can often be found in use by much more recent groups of
Indians, even up to the contact period. To reason that these
later Indians picked up the archaic artifacts and kept on using
them is possible. It seems more probable, however, that
archeologists must not rely too strongly upon typological dating
and cultural association of "archaic" flaked stone points.
Shiner observes, in concluding his account of Test 18, that 3
postholes were found in a line running north-south through the
apex of the triangle made by Ditches 93 and 94. These post-
holes appeared to have nothing to do with the early ditches
since at least one of them had been dug after Ditch 94 had been
excavated. Ditch 94 penetrated and partly destroyed Ditch 93,
the right angle ditch. It has not been possible to regard these
features as part of James Fort.
Forty feet east of Test Pit 18 and just north of the John Smith
Monument, an exploratory trench, Test Pit 22, revealed a small
ditch (Ditch 92) running north-south and extending beneath
the Confederate Fort. From the few artifacts found in Ditch
92, it would seem to date very close to the Civil War period.
This test demonstrated that the low lying area between the Old
Church and the Confederate Fort was not a marsh.
The Confederate Fort. The Confederate Fort is a critical
factor in the area thought to be the first occupied by the settlers.
Hence, a resume of the salient observations in Shiner's report
concerning this feature is in order:
1. The moat ditch now (1957) visible on the north and
northeast sides was tested and appears contiguous with Ditch 95.
This is a small ditch trace which extends around the river (or
south) side of the Confederate Fort. There are no postholes in
the fill, and there is evidence of silting, indicating that the ditch
stood open for some time. There is no record of diagnostic
artifacts in the ditch fill.
2. In areas covered by Confederate earthworks, there is
always a stratum of 17th-century cultural evidence in situ.
3. There is every reason to believe that the river side of the
Confederate Fort was deliberately scraped away, probably in an
effort to stop erosion late in the 19th century.
4. In the southern portion of the Confederate Fort is evidence
of a well-developed earthwork with gun ports and a terreplein.
Three test pits, Nos. 20, 24, and part of 18, were excavated
into the terreplein which had been surfaced with heavy timbers
held together with spikes. Some 8-inch spikes were still stand-
ing upright in the soil.
5. A drainage ditch (No. 91), probably framed with wood,
ran under the northeast embankment of the fort.
6. Well 24, inside the fort (Lot 100:93), restored in the last
50 years, was excavated and found to be 17th century in origin.
The top of the original brick masonry had fallen in and the
well had been filled with earth to within 3 feet of the surface
of the present ground. Excavations continued to a depth of
12 feet below the present surface, the lower 5 feet having the
original brick masonry preserved. Parts of a barrel were found
between 8 and 9 feet from the present surface. Artifacts
recovered from the lower part of the well included an early
goose wing axe, ca. 1600; part of an iron kettle; fragments of
wine bottles (not datable, but presumably post- 1640) ; German
stoneware; and a large piece of sheet lead, possibly from a
pumping device.
7. Ditch 92 found outside the Confederate Fort on the south-
east side may or may not be precedent to the fort. Objects here
seemed to be entirely 19th century. The ditch could not be
traced inside the fort.
8. A central feature of the Confederate Fort was a dugout
with a slight horseshoe-shaped earthwork around it. The dug-
15
♦1
51
SO
At
56
54
47
55
46 45
57
58
59
60
61
61
i«
«3
i oo aoo 300
SCALE IN FEET
• 4
FIGURE 3 — Map of Underwater Search
Map showing tests (clambucket drops) in the underwater search for the First Fort at Jamestown.
out was tested and found to have been 4l/2 feet deep. There
were no artifacts here.
9. Artifacts from the Confederate occupation were scarce and
limited chiefly to a spoon and some ironstone pottery in Test
Pit 6 on the river side, plus some glass fragments and iron
spikes.
Project 232
This project involved an underwater search carried out on
the shallow shelf between the seawall and the river channel,
from the old ferry wharf at West 100 to North 107, north of
the Ludwell-Fourth Statehouse row. Testing was from a barge
on which was mounted a power-operated clam bucket to dredge
16
"bites" of the offshore shelf and deposit them on the deck for
observation and separation of artifact material. Although evi-
dence of the First Fort was not found, other significant findings
were made.
Sixty-five "drops," or clam bucket tests, in a given location
were made, each being 2 to 8 feet into the mud (see Figure 3).
Most of the "drops" were 2 to 4 clam bucket loads, averaging
a depth of 4 feet. Locations were planned in lines parallel to
the shore at 50, 100, 150, and 200 feet from the shore. Along
these lines drops were intended for 50 foot intervals. In
practice, however, the pattern was irregular, due to difficulty in
controlling the barge, but the drops were uniformly scattered.
Each time the bucket was let down for a drop, Edward B. Jelks
recorded the position using a transit along given locations on
the shore. He recorded angles from a base line and stadia
readings on the barge for distance. The transit operator esti-
mated compensation for discrepancy between the distance from
the transit to the stadia rod and the drop, and J. L. Cotter on
the barge assigned a number to the drop. Afterward, the
transit man recorded each drop from a flash card held on the
barge. Thus the artifact lot from each drop was given the same
number as that assigned to the drop and recorded on a plat after
transit computations were made.
Each drop brought several bucketloads of material, mostly
mud, with some underlying sand and pockets of gravel from
the underwater shelf. These bucketloads were deposited on the
deck and inspected by raking and scattering the material while
it was being sluiced with water from a low-pressure hose.
Screening was impractical.
Artifacts of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries were found
over the entire area tested. Artifacts of the 17th century were
found in 19 drops, most of which were close to the shore, but
well scattered. Almost nothing was found beyond 200 feet
from the seawall. Nearly all of the material was found on or
near the surface of the clay-and-sand bottom. No cultural
material whatever was found in the deeper clay and sand,
indicating that artifacts did not sink into the river shelf
formation.
The artifacts (other than brick, tile, and questionable ceramic
and iron specimens) were unmistakably 17th century. From
Drop No. 2: Glass bottle neck, 17th-century Dutch gin bottle.
Drop 10: Leg of 17th-century, 3-legged pot, lead -glazed
earthenware. Drop 26: Salt-glazed stoneware fragment, brown
glaze on gray body. Drop 55: Fragment of lead-glazed earthen-
ware bowl, German salt-glazed stoneware fragment, blue-heart
design on gray body. These drops were well-spaced from 100
to 200 feet from the seawall and from West 97 to West 89.
Project 235
Dr. Joel L. Shiner directed work on this project. He com-
pleted tests in the Elay-Swann tract, an area east and down-
river from Orchard Run from which a 19th-century wharf had
extended. On this tract had stood some 19th-century structural
facilities. Carl F. Miller, under the direction of J. C. Harring-
ton, had begun the "Elay-Swan Tract" tests in 1937. Shiner's
evidence supported Miller's tentative conclusions that no 17th-
century occupational evidence exists in this area, either structural
or artifact. This proved beyond reasonable doubt that the
First Fort did not stand here, contrary to the opinions offered
by George C. Gregory and Dr. Henry C Forman (Forman,
1938, p. 331). Forman cited evidence of 17th-century cartog-
raphy which appeared to place the fort in the area of the
mid-southern shore of the island.
Conclusions On The First Fort Search
Dr. Shiner's concluding statements regarding the search for
the First Fort are quoted:
The primary objective of the digging in the vicinity of the Confed-
erate Fort was not realized. No trace of James Fort was found. How-
ever, the excavations did not prove that the Fort had not been there.
There may be a remnant under some part of the Confederate earthwork.
In view of the early seventeenth century artifacts found in the vicinity,
there is good reason to believe that the Fort may have been nearby. In
all probability, it stood on ground that has been washed into the James
River.
Other excavations on Jamestown Island give room for speculation on
the location of James Fort. Some historians have advanced the hypothe-
sis that James Fort was located, not at the traditional site near the Old
Church, but about half a mile to the southeast on the Elay-Swan tract.
Excavations at the latter site encountered no traces whatever of seven-
teenth century materials, proving that the Fort could not have been
located there. Now that the Elay-Swan tract has been effectively elimi-
nated, that increases the probability that the Fort once stood near the
Old Church. The discovery that an early Colonial graveyard (Project
105) was under the Ludwell-Statehouse buildings on the "Third Ridge"
might be interpreted as evidence that James Fort may not have been far
away. The "forge" with its emphasis on arms and weapons may have
been associated in some way with the Fort.
An underwater salvage program (Research Project No. 232) at-
tempted to find traces of the First Fort by dredging the underwater shelf
offshore from the Church area to the "Third Ridge." Although seven-
teenth century materials were recovered, they were badly scattered and
mixed with later artifacts. The results of the search were inconclusive.
Although the First Fort was not found, some new data are available
as a result of the digging. Many artifacts, both Colonial and Indian,
have been added to the collection, and information has been gathered
about an area hitherto unexcavated.
CHURCHES
Beyond recovery by archeological techniques are the first two
churches that were built at Jamestown within the fort area
(now possibly offshore in the James River). According to
John Smith, the first church service was held under a sail
stretched between trees. This first structure was a rude shelter
which Smith described as set on cratchets, that is, on upright
forked logs, or — a less logical possibility — on crucks after the
English medieval mode by then in disuse. This church burned
with the First Fort in January 1608. A second church was built,
fell into ruin and later was rebuilt in 1610 by Sir Thomas Gates.
Ultimately the 1610 church decayed and was supplanted by a
barn which served temporarily for divine services.
17
«lia*
PLATE 7 — Foundations of Early Church
Left. — Remnant of the north wall of the precedent frame church, pre-
sumably of 1617, based on cobblestones and at least two courses of
brick above the cobblestones for a footing. The footing of the original
brick church appears to the left beneath the standing wall of the
memorial church erected in 1907 by the Society of Colonial Dames.
(An in-place exhibit.)
Right. — Foundation evidence along the interior of the south wall of the
memorial church, APVA tract, Jamestown. The line of stringer bricks
next to the lights marks the foundation of the presumed frame church
of 1617. The foundation footing beneath the wall of the memorial
church (1907) is presumably that of the first brick church, ca. 1647.
The next or third church to be referred to as specifically
constructed dates from Captain Argall's administration in 1617.
This structure was "50 foote in length by 20 foote in breadth."
Its dimensions and identity appear very plausibly those of the
earlier of two foundations at the present site. They were situ-
ated a short distance inland from the location of the First Fort.
Engineer John Tyler, Jr. discovered these foundations in 1901
inside the foundations of the first brick church. Tyler explored
the church site under the auspices of the APVA. According to
his brief report to the APVA dated June 8, 1901, the founda-
tions appear to have extended eastward beyond the chancel of
the brick church. Lyon G. Tyler in his Cradle of the Republic
(Tyler, 1906), and Samuel H. Yonge in The Site of Old
Jamestown (Yonge, 1903) recorded similar observations. Thus
the length could have been about 50 feet. The old cobble and
brick footings extend only about 25 feet on the south side and
less on the north side. The width is 2iy2 feet, outside measure-
ment. The inside measurement is 19 %0 feet.
That the earlier church was a frame structure is demonstrated
by the character of its foundations. These consist of a footing
of cobblestones and rubble on which 1 to 2 courses of brick
were laid. It is interesting to note that these bricks, when the
writer cleared them for exhibition in 1957, averaged more than
9 inches long, 4% inches wide and 21^, inches thick. This
would make the bricks average V2 mcn longer and !/8 mcn
broader than the bricks of the first brick church. It is also
worth noting that the bricks of the church of 1617 were not as
well-fired as those of the later structure. They ranged in color
from orange-red to red, whereas those of the brick church
ranged from dark-red to purple. The brickwork of the 1617
church was a single header course (a little over 9 inches wide).
It was set in rather soft and crumbly mortar in which large
pieces of oyster shell occurred. The mortar of the first brick
church foundation also contained oyster shell but was consider-
ably harder and better constituted.
Lyon G. Tyler describes the chancel of the 1617 church as
being 22 by 5l/2 feet (Tyler, 1906, p. 122). This chancel
was paved with tiles. Above the tiles lay an interval of earth
18
PLATE 8 — The Church Tower Before Stabilization
The church tower before stabilization, looking west from the churchyard. The embankment of the Confederate Fort appears behind
the church. View taken prior to 1900.
and the tiles of the chancel of the fourth (first brick) church.
Tyler also mentions a third, superficial layer of chancel tile
which he believed related to the church reconstruction from the
wall of the fourth church following the fire of Bacon's Rebel-
lion. However, the records of John Tyler and the APVA do
not clarify this assumption.
The fourth (or first brick) church, excavated by Tyler, stood
on a foundation 55 feet long, outside measurement, and 50%
feet, inside measurement. The walls of the foundations vary
in width from 2 to 3 feet. Outside and attached to the north
and south walls are brick buttresses 2 feet 6 inches wide extend-
ing from the wall 3 feet 1 inch. There are 3 of these buttresses
attached to each wall and spaced respectively approximately
14 feet apart. The chancel of this brick church was paved with
square tiles measuring 8l/2 on a side by H/g inches thick. A
door 3 feet 9 inches wide opened at the east end of the south
wall onto a transverse aisle paved with brick and situated in
front of the chancel. The door was slightly farther east of an
indicated door in the south wall of the 1617 church. A brick
aisle 5 feet 2 inches wide, extended from the transverse aisle
to the door. (The aisle coincides with the width of the west
door.)
In his report to the APVA Tyler made an important ob-
servation regarding the first brick church, namely:
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The west wall of the church [is broken] by two transverse walls run-
ning 5 feet 2 inches apart and on either side of the eastern arch of the
tower. The connecting walls between tower and church are 3 feet thick
and run from the church under the tower, evidently showing the tower
to have been built after the completion of the church.
Thus the brick church appears to have been built with a west
door whose opening extended somewhat beyond the west wall
but with no tower. This doorway extension would have had
to be destroyed before the tower was constructed inasmuch as a
clear space 11 inches wide now exists between the tower and
the west foundation wall of the church. Yonge, while not
mentioning this fact, states that "Judging from the brick bond
of the church tower it belonged originally to the fourth of the
five churches, all of which except the latest one are more or less
briefly referred to in the available annals of the colonists."
S»^C«^»
PLATE 9 — Brick Church Foundations
Brick church foundations excavated by John Tyler, Jr., for the APVA
in 1901, looking east from the church tower.
Tyler notes that the fourth (or first brick) church had been
provided for in January 1639, by contributions from the council,
the governor, and the wealthiest colonists (Tyler, 1906, p. 123) .
He further states that it was still unfinished in November 1647
when Southwark parish in Surry was assessed tithes and dues
"for and toward the finishing and repairing of the church at
James Citty." Tyler then adds: "Last to be completed was
probably the tower situated at the western end of the church."
Therefore we may assume that the church tower was con-
structed sometime after 1647 and quite possibly after the burn-
ing of the church in 1676. In any event it is an historical fact
that the towers of rural English churches of the medieval period
were constructed after the churches were built. This would
argue against Yonge's suggestion (Yonge, p. 73) that the open-
ings in the north, south, and west walls of the top story of the
tower were for defense, since fear of Indian attack ended after
the defeat of Opecancanough in 1644.
The tower is approximately 18 feet square with walls 3 feet
thick at the base diminished by offsets on the inner faces of
each floor to approximately 17 inches at the top. The masonry
is English bond with occasional glazed headers. The present
height of the church tower is 36 feet. The original height was
estimated by Tyler to have been about 46 feet. The first of
three stories had arched doorways through the front and back
walls. The second story presumably had a window above a
round arch that finished the doorway and was itself decorated
with a round arch which is still intact. Traces of the lower arch
are still visible in the original masonry of the first story. There
appears to have been a door, likewise above a circular arch, in
the east wall at the second story. This east wall door opened
into a gallery across the western end of the nave of the church.
The third story had 6 small windows or ports, 2 in front and
2 in each of the side walls. These openings may have served
for defense. In any event, they were needed to release the
sound of the church bell.
In 1907 The Society of Colonial Dames erected a memorial
church directly upon the north and south foundations of the
first brick church, so that the original foundations are matched
above with modern masonry, even to the buttresses. At the
rear of the chancel, however, a remnant of a brick wall, pre-
sumably that of the brick church, lies inside the east end wall
of the memorial church. This remnant has been re-set with
modern (1907?) masonry, and we can only assume that the
present memorial church varies from the original outline at the
east end by the thickness of this wall. The memorial church
construction lies on a steel or iron plate placed on the first brick
church foundations.
The foundations of the 1617 and 1639—47 church were
dressed in April 1957 for a lighted display inside the memorial
church nave. While dressing these foundations the writer made
brick measurements and noted three pieces of wall plaster in
the earth and detritus between the walls. The plaster, made of
oyster shell and sand, had been laid on brick, indicating that
the brick church — or churches — had been plastered inside.
A note on brick sizes :
For tower
For chancel (floor)
Average 8V2 to 8% inches long
'b1/^ t0 4Vfc inches wide
2V4 to 2% inches thick
Average 7niG to 85/s inches long
3%6 to 4%o inches wide
2l/8 to 2 V2 inches thick
These sizes are within the range of bricks in buildings built
about the middle of the 17th century at Jamestown, but notice-
ably smaller than those representing the last quarter, as seen in
Structure 125.
21
CHANCEL AND CHURCHYARD BURIALS
During the June 1901 exploration of the foundation area of
the church, engineer John Tyler, Jr., reported that the old grave-
yard wall, 18 inches thick, was built across the nave 16.8 feet
from the southeast corner and 13.1 feet from the northeast
corner, in front of the chancel.
We may infer from the records of the APVA (see Appendix
C) that a number of burials were discovered beneath the
chancels of the 1617 and 1639 churches and possibly beneath a
subsequent chancel floor. There may have been as many as 20
such burials, 10 being located beneath each of 2 sets of tiles.
Beneath the aisle bricks, two flat tombstones were found. One
of these tombs once had brass plates set in carved recesses of
the face. This tomb lies directly in front of the door of the
original brick church, and is oriented north-south, rather than
in the conventional east-west position.
At right angles to the tombstone with the brasses missing is
a tombstone bearing the inscription:
Here lyeth interred the body of John Clough, minister, who departed
this life on the 11th day of January 16 — .
Several graves were located in the ground on either side of
the central aisle of the brick church, but the number of these
tombs and their associations with their respective churches is
uncertain.
Near and parallel with the north wall were 2 graves, 1 across
the chancel and the other across the transverse aisle. It is
certain that they belong to the last church at the site because
of their position beneath the brick and tile floorings, and be-
cause they were not intrusive from a later period.
Members of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia
Antiquities under the direction of Mary Winder Garrett and
Annie Gait made further explorations in June 1902. Mr. Wil-
liam Leal, caretaker and stonemason, assisted them. The Misses
Garrett and Gait rendered a report to the Association on
December 15, 1905. In their report they described removing
the 9-inch square tiles in order to dig below the chancel.
Below this tile flooring they found what they believed was
another chancel composed of tiles 7 inches square and 2 inches
thick. Only the center portion of the older pavement was
intact. However, they found a bed of mortar that stretched
from the east wall of the buttressed church westward into the
nave 4 feet 5 inches beyond the limits of the upper chancel.
Tile impressions appeared in the surface of the mortar to show
that they had once extended the full width of the older chancel,
21 feet. Thus, the lower chancel corresponded in width with
the inside measurement of the cobblestone foundation discov-
ered by Tyler in 1901. The chancel of the buttressed church
was 221/2 feet wide.
Although the report does not state the interval in depth
between the earlier and later chancel floorings, there was suffi-
cient clearance to accommodate 10 burials, all oriented east-west.
Beneath the tile and mortar flooring of the lower chancel was
room for more burials interred closer together than those above.
These varied slightly in orientation from the higher burials in
relation to the axis of the cobblestone foundation which was
slightly north of west and south of east. One of the burials
beneath the older chancel extended 1 foot 6 inches east and
beneath the east wall of the buttressed church. This demon-
strated that the chancel of the earlier church was considerably
deeper from front to back and that the earlier church was
longer.
The report is not clear as to whether or not 10 burials were
excavated and identified beneath each chancel floor.
Excavations were carried on in the churchyard where a num-
ber of unidentified graves were found. The association placed
markers to these graves and continued the excavations in an
effort to establish the extent of the churchyard. Through these
excavations, conducted by William Leal, graves were found
extending on the south to the river. On the north and east,
nothing was found beyond the enclosure. Memories were cited
to give evidence that human burials were exposed when the
Confederate Fort of 1861 was thrown up. While no burials
were found in 1955, in testing done beneath the fort, 2 burials
were found east of the cemetery wall at that time. If the
observation that the burials extended to the river is correct, we
have here a significant clue, since property boundaries are cited
with reference to the churchyard.
CEMETERIES AND SCATTERED BURIALS
Until 1955 the only known cemetery of the first settlers was
the one that lies about the standing tower of the 1639—47
church. Although the full extent of this burial ground is not
known, we may say confidently that its limitations were the low
ground to the southwest, the "greate road" to the north and
east, and the limit southward of the original shoreline.
As stated earlier, the church stood on slightly rising ground
some 100 to 200 yards from the First Fort site, the present
church ruins representing three distinct superimposed structures.
The first of these was probably the third church, 20 by 50 feet
inside measurement, erected of wood on a brick foundation in
1617. About this church (and probably inside its walls) lay
burials of an early cemetery which occupied this piece of rel-
atively high ground. Prior to 1617 the first and second wooden
churches respectively, were standing within the First Fort area,
and burials could have been deposited on the third or fourth
ridge, or on both. The foundations of the present church
reconstruction lay outside those of the third church, and prob-
ably represent the fourth of five churches, having been built at
the time of Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. The fourth church
foundation definitely overlies graves of a cemetery, but the
exact date of its building is not known — probably between
1639 and 1647. The fifth and last church was built on the
foundations of the fourth, possibly using the standing walls
after the interior was destroyed by .fire in 1676.
22
A second cemetery, also dating from the early part of the
17th century, was discovered on the third ridge in 1955 by
accident, during excavations under joint auspices of the National
Park Service and the Federal Jamestown-Williamsburg-Yorktown
Celebration Commission. This work was to reveal the founda-
tions of the Third and Fourth Statehouses for measured
drawings. It was carried out under the direction of Archeologist
Louis R. Caywood. Five burials were noted beneath the level
of the bottom courses of brick, implying that this burial ground
had been abandoned and forgotten by the time the Ludwell
House and the Third Statehouse were built, shortly before 1665
and about 1665, respectively.
The National Park Service arranged a supplementary project
in 1955 to determine the extent of this burial ground. Dr. Joel
L. Shiner directed this additional testing in and around the
foundations of the entire building group on the third ridge.
Seventy burials in all were located in selective tests. The tests
revealed that the cemetery had extended generally over the ridge
from an undetermined point on land now eroded by the river,
east to the present frame building, "The Yeardley House."
Of these burials, which may have been as many as 300
originally, only 10 were exposed fully. Evidence here indicated
hurried interment, probably without coffins in most cases.*
Whether or not this find was made after the original clearing of the
foundations in 1903 is uncertain. Yet it is probable that at some time
Colonel Yonge actually excavated one of the burials underlying the
Ludwell-Statehouse group. However, no further exploration was made
at the time and the burial evidence was left unreported.
This suggests that the third ridge cemetery, as well as the one
around and below the existing church site, dates from the first
quarter of the 17th century. Between December 1606 (when
the first vessels of the Virginia Company left England) and
February 1625, 7,289 immigrants came to Virginia. During
this period 6,040 died. Between December 1606 and Novem-
ber 1619, Alexander Brown estimates 1,640 immigrants out of
2,540 died (Brown, 1898, pp. 285-320). Allowing for a
proportion of these settlers to have been buried on plantations
and settlements on the mainland, it is evident that more persons
were buried on Jamestown Island during the first few years
than lived there at any one time thereafter.
Four burials within 100 feet of the present confines of the
churchyard (lot 98:98) are probably associated with the old
burial ground and present no unusual aspects. The only arti-
facts found in 1 of these burials were 2 bronze straight
pins, 1 at the throat, the other on the right parietal — pre-
sumably part of a cloth adornment or bandage. All four burials
* A small box of human skeletal fragments, representing a young
adult, is in the possession of the APVA and bears the following nota-
tion:
Teeth and small parts of bones found 5 feet below the ground
in trench along south wall of the Ludwell House Cellar, State-
house foundations. June 5, 1930.
S. H. Yonge
from Mrs. Ayers
undoubtedly represent the 17th-century settlers. The bones
were exposed and recorded, but not removed.
Soil shadows indicate that the bodies were placed in some
kind of box, although more tangible evidence of coffins is
lacking.
Excavation in 1938 revealed the Travis graveyard, located
11/2 miles from the church tower. This cemetery, which was
once a private tract belonging to an 18th-century planter, con-
tains at least 62 burials.
Although legal steps were taken early in the history of the
colony to provide each parish with a public cemetery (usually
the churchyard), it was customary from the beginning for many
to bury their dead in the vicinity of their homes (Bruce, 1895,
Vol. 2, pp. 237—239). The law did not permit interment of
any servant in a private spot (Hening, 1823, Vol. 2, p. 53).
A servant had to be buried in a public cemetery, with witnesses.
This also protected from scandal those who might be suspected
of illegality.
We may note in this regard that archeological search has
revealed scattered burials at Jamestown. For instance, two
skeletons, a young male and female, respectively, were discov-
ered in a ditch (D— 76) 70 feet south of the workshop, Struc-
ture 110 (lot 101:103). Neither appears to be typically
European, rather Indian or part Negro. Another burial, a
heavily deteriorated, syphilitic Indian (see Appendix B) lay in
the intersection of Ditches 8 and 10, 50 feet north of the
frame structure, Structure 116 (Lot 96:106). A disarticulated
"bundle" burial was found at the exterior (southwest) corner
of the brick fireplace of Structure 116. The bones were lying
in a compact pile 1.1 feet deep, just below the humus line at
the level of the base course of masonry. A refuse area 1 to 2
feet below the surface surrounded the burial and the corner of
the fireplace. This refuse area contained cow bones; brick
fragments; 14 white pipestems, indicating the last half of the
century; 6 pieces of local, lead-glazed earthenware; 1 piece of
English, lead-glazed earthenware; 4 pieces of stoneware (both
brown and gray-mottled, probably English) ; a piece of Chinese
porcelain; a wine-bottle fragment; 11 handwrought nails; and
a brass pin. Significantly, perhaps, the fill also contained a
large white glass bead, an Indian cjuartzite flaked knife, and an
unworked flake of quartzite. This burial, removed en bloc to
the Jamestown museum storage room, has not yet been fully
examined. It is designated Burial 1 of Project 102.
Therefore we may presume that the surrounding refuse in
the humus represented a superficial mixture of 18th- and 19th-
century ceramics, although the burial itself contained no direct
artifact inclusions. Yet the lower humus contained house refuse
generally signifying the last half of the 17th century.
Any supposition, therefore, that the burial is prehistoric
Indian seems open to question. Moreover, it is not probable
that this burial represents one of the native or white victims of
cannibalism in the Starving Time of 1609—10. It is more
plausible that an Indian burial was disturbed by the excavation
for the brick fireplace and redeposited at its corner.
23
PLATE 10 — Skeleton from Indian Burial
Burial "Feature 75" of Lot 96:106 was located in the crossing of Ditch 10 and Ditch 8. The body was oriented with head to the east. Indications
of advanced syphilis (osteomyelitis) are conspicuous, especially in the frontal bones of the head and the tibiae. The excavator (Archeologist Conrad B.
Bentzen) reported in August 1940, that in his opinion the skeleton was that of an American Indian, male, about 30 years old, not buried in Christian
manner. A piece of window glass beneath the 3rd lumbar vertebra and the deposition in a ditch indicates 17th-century dating.
Several burials have been discovered outside the confines of
the cemeteries (Third Ridge beneath the Ludwell-Statehouse
group and the churchyard between the "greate road" and the
river) . Some can be assumed to be those of settlers, possibly
servants, who, for some reason, were buried outside of con-
secrated ground. Bruce mentions at least one settler who pre-
ferred to be buried in his own garden! (Bruce, 1895, Vol. II,
p. 238.)
A definite category of burial, however, can be designated for
Indian skeletons deposited in ditches, of which there are at
least three reliable examples: Feature 75 of Lot 96:106, a
burial in Ditch 10 at the intersection with Ditch 8, and Burials
Nos. 1 and 2 of Project 194, deposited nearly head-to-head in
Ditch 76 in Lot 101:103. Happily, Burial No. 1 had a clay
pipe in good preservation directly associated with it. Therefore,
this burial can be dated with confidence in the 1680 period,
and, by analogy, the same would hold for Burial 2.
The burial (Feature 75) found in 1940 (Bentzen, 1941),
had a piece of window glass deposited beneath a vertebra, and,
by this and other association, is pretty surely within the James-
town 17th-century era, probably last half of that century. The
skull of this burial has been the subject of a meticulous study
by Dr. George K. Neumann who sent his report to Mr. Bentzen
June 19, 1942, for the Jamestown files. His report is included
in this report where it supplements archeological data on the
Indians associated with Jamestown.
THE POTT AND KNOWLES TRACT
1955 INVESTIGATIONS
(LOTS 95:110, 95:111, AND 96:110)
During the 1955 field season, an effort was made to locate
significant structural evidence relating to the tract east of Ditch 1
and owned at various times by Dr. John Pott (1624), John
Phipps (ante 1663), John Knowles (1665), Jonathan Newell
(1668), Stephen Proctor (1679), William Sherwood (1681),
and Jeffrey Jeffreys (1697). None was found.
This tract, lying north of Ditch 2, had been heavily used by
the Barneys in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and by
the CCC camp facilities in the 1930's. Barns, sheds, shops,
and miscellaneous frame structures had been spread over the
ground for a distance of 600 feet east of the Ambler House.
24
Results of testing in lots 95:110, 95:111, and 96:110 were
largely negative. Although the tests were limited and did not
extend north of N 97, they were concentrated in the area which
could have bordered "the back streete" — either north or south
of Ditch 2. Three extra trenches were dug in the northwest
quadrant of Lot 95:110 to determine if Ditch 2 turned north
and if so, how far it extended. It was proved that Ditch 2 did
not turn north. Further examination of the original field plats
showed that evidence of its turning north had not been found.
Early archeological references at Jamestown show that there was
a turn, and this was recorded on the original base map — since
corrected.
The artifacts of Project 104 test trenches, in these 3 lots,
represent the 18th century almost exclusively, with only a few
pieces of Dutch delftware and gin bottles to suggest 17th cen-
tury. Certainly if Dr. Pott and his contemporaries from the
first half of the 17th century were established here, they failed
to leave as much as a clay pipe bowl behind them — which is
stretching probability to the vanishing point. Of 4 ditch
traces (Ditches 57, 56, 55, and 54) all extending nearly north-
south between E 110 and E 112, only Ditch 55 was explored
beyond the test section. Ditch 55 was tested its full length and
found to be only 42.8 feet long, 4l/2 to 5 feet wide and with
a bottom 2.4 feet below the surface. The nature and purpose
of this ditch is hard to interpret, but the fact is evident that it
was ultimately filled with refuse. This refuse, which was
notable in quantity and variety, gives a clear time association
from 1720 to 1760. It included English delftware; Chinese
porcelain; salt-glazed Staffordshire; last-half- 18th-century wine
bottles (fairly numerous); salt-glazed utility stoneware jugs;
English slipware of 1700—60; pipebowls of mid-1700's or a
little later; a broad iron hoe; and miscellaneous other iron
items, including cannonball fragments.
No other features, structural or otherwise, were found except
the brick floor of a superficial, small (8 by 12 feet) outbuilding,
Structure 133, possibly associated with a garden of the late 18th
or early 19th century.
THE COUNTRY HOUSE— LUDWELL HOUSE-
THIRD AND FOURTH STATEHOUSE
The Country House-Ludwell House- Third and Fourth State-
house group consists of four distinct units which were evidently
built at different times, although mutually joined. These units,
designated A, B, C, and D, will be associated as logically as
possible with historic references — bearing in mind that these
references are not always precise.
Unit A
The initial core unit comprises 4 apartments: the western-
most apartment, cut at the west end by the seawall, is the front
half of the Country House; the other 3 are taken to represent
the front halves of "Philip Ludwell's 3 houses." These 4
apartments ostensibly were units of a single row house 160 feet
long, between the extreme western and eastern walls, inside
measurements, according to Yonge's scale diagram (Yonge,
1903, p. 87). Each apartment was slightly less than 40 feet
long and 20 feet wide. The 4 subunits were separated by party
walls. Only the easternmost house had a cellar, which was paved
with brick. The 2 western rooms had central fireplaces which
were double and detached from the walls. The 2 eastern rooms
had interior fireplaces in the end walls, and semipartitions in
each room faced a porch placed in the center of the respective
southern walls. These porches were nearly identical and meas-
ured approximately 10 by 10 feet, inside dimensions. A third
porch, slightly less than 8-feet square, is attached to the west
end of the south wall in the middle of "Philip Ludwell's 3
houses." The porches have no cellars beneath them and the 2
larger ones are clearly entranceways.
The remarkable similarity of Unit A of this group to Struc-
ture 115 is instantly evident. Like Unit A, Structure 115 is a
long, multiple dwelling situated between Pitch and Tar Swamp
and "the back streete." Both structures have an inside length
of 160 feet; both are approximately 20 feet inside width; both
have the double apartments averaging a little more than 38 feet
inside in length, separated by party walls and, interiorly, by
massive double fireplaces nearly 8 feet wide. Both structures
have cellars beneath the easternmost apartment. Structure 115
has only 1 attached unit corresponding to the porches of Unit A
of the Ludwell Houses. This unit is somewhat larger and has
a cellar. The arrangement of the fireplaces in Unit A and
Structure 115 has several important points of correspondence,
if we except the large exterior fireplace of Structure 115, east
side. Artifact evidence from Structure 115 indicates occupancy
extending to the end of the 17th century.
Unit B
Yonge assumes that the westernmost apartment of Unit A
was the "Country House," or Governor's mansion, and that
the remaining 3 apartments were "Philip Ludwell's 3 Houses"
(Yonge, p. 87). If Yonge's assumption is true, then the
Statehouse was probably completed about 1666 as 2 additional
apartments attached to the east end of Ludwell's 3 houses, or
the Unit A row.
Unit B had 2 compartments, the smaller one adjoining Lud-
well's house 30 by 20 feet, and the easternmost compartment,
40 by 20 feet. A 10-by-10-foot porch was located midway in
the south wall of the Statehouse. A slightly larger porch, or
attached room, 15 feet square, was placed midway in the north
wall. Significantly, no fireplaces appear to have been built into
the Third Statehouse. This leaves us to assume that here began
the tradition of building statehouses without heating facilities
in order to reduce the fire hazard, a characteristic of the Fifth
Statehouse, built at Williamsburg. It may be noted, however,
that a pair of 8-foot-wide recesses, 3 feet deep, midway in the
north wall of each statehouse room may represent either fire-
places or window bays. The statehouses had no cellars. The
Third Statehouse was burned in Bacon's Rebellion, and it is
25
FIGURE 5 — Plan of Ludwell-Statehonse Group
assumed that the Fourth Statehouse was built directly upon the
foundations of the Third, or, that its masonry shell was used.
Unit C
This unit is reported by Yonge to have a small proportion of
the underpinning at the northernmost wall made up of granite
rubble. With this exception the rest of the walls are laid on
a bed of mortar about 2 inches thick. The cross walls of Unit C
are markedly out of line with the corresponding walls of Unit
A, with which they are contiguous. To Yonge, these dis-
crepancies indicated that Units A and C were built at different
periods, and Unit C was possibly later. The only cellar in
Unit C is a half-cellar in the eastern room. Unfortunately, no
study can be made of the artifacts from this or other unit cellars.
The brickwork of Units A, B, and C, insofar as it was briefly
observed beneath its capping in 1954—55, appears fairly uniform
and characteristic of the 17th century. The homogeneous row
house aspect of Unit A, seems to support Yonge's contention
of the later addition of Unit C.
Unit D
Yonge regarded Unit D, in its eastern room which contained
a cellar, as representing one of Philip Ludwell's three houses.
"Under the northern half of the westernmost Ludwell house
was found a cellar 20 by 40 feet by about 6 feet deep, filled
with the brick of fallen walls" (Yonge p. 89). The size of the
bricks suggests the possibility that Unit D was added to Unit A
at a later date. The bricks are slightly larger than the typically
17th-century bricks of the A and B units. Also, the two cellar
rooms of Unit D are markedly dissimilar in design from the
adjoining rooms of Unit A (see Figure 5) .
The western room of Unit D had an unpaved cellar; the
eastern room had a cellar paved with brick. Yonge (p. 90)
describes this brick floor and the contents of cellar fill:
In the floor is a pit three and one-half feet square by three feet deep,
with brick-lined sides. Leading from the pit to what was apparently
formerly a hole about a foot in diameter is a shallow drain. It is pos-
sible that the pit was for draining the cellar, but it is far more probable
that it was a well. On the floor of the cellar were several sheets of
melted lead, and among the brick debris were a "sacar" shot, also two
bombshells — one of the calibre of a demi-culverin, the other of a sacar
— and fragments of exploded shells. The above warlike relics may have
been fired in 1676 from Bacon's trench near the north end of the isth-
mus. The cellar is entered by a flight of steps on its northern side. A
pipe, scissors, steel sewing-thimble, copper candle stick, ladies' riding-
stirrup, and an old bottle, all of quaint and antique shapes, found in the
cellar, form additions to the Association's relics.
26
PLATE 11 — The Luduiell-Statekouse Foundations
The Ludwell-Statehouse foundations after excavation and capping. The capped walls of the largest continuous row of joined houses so far found
at Jamestown, the 4th Statehouse (nearest the camera), the Ludwell House, and, at the far end, the presumed "Country House." These foundations,
consisting of 10 major units, were located and partly excavated by Col. Samuel H. Yonge in 1903 following preparations fo^ the building of the
seawall, which he directed. The integral portion of this structural series (Unit A) closely resembles Structure 115.
Unfortunately, the identity and provenience of some of these
objects are now a matter of conjecture, since no specimens were
systematically catalogued. We may wonder at the "exploded
shells" assumed to have dated from the 1676 rebellion. Yet
some of these objects are undoubtedly among the miscellany
of 17th-century objects in the Relic House collection of the
APVA at Jamestown. In this collection is a bottle seal not
mentioned by Yonge which bears the date 1710 and the letter
B intertwined with a merchant's mark (ornamental device).
This seal is associated with the label "Found in the Country
House." The best evidence, then, is that this seal did come
from the cellar of the Unit D, west room.
It is interesting to speculate if the thimble mentioned in
Yonge's description was indeed steel because the 2 thimbles in
the relic house collection, provenience unknown, are bronze and
brass respectively. A steel thimble would be at variance with
other thimbles found at Jamestown, which are characteristically
of bronze. Steel would indicate more probably a late date.
One can also assume that a brass or bronze thimble was mis-
taken for steel, or that a steel thimble was not preserved in the
collection.
Yonge reasoned that the attached westernmost rooms of Units
A and D were the Country House, i.e., the residence of the
governor. If either or both of the north rooms of Unit D
are to be associated with the "Country House," it is evident
from the character of the ground plan that both are alike in
design and purpose — both are cellars. Yet, the westernmost
room is unpaved and each room has a stairway in the north
wall, center, leading to ground level. The only feature which
would suggest a unity for the two end rooms is the somewhat
27
PLATE 12 — Conjectural Drawing of the Country House-Ludwell House-Statehouse Group
Conjectural painting of original building group. The row of attached houses including the Country House, Ludwell House and, at the right or north
end, the Third Statehouse (N104; E 90, 91, 92). This row is located on the Third Ridge, over an early cemetery estimated to have contained at least
300 burials (possibly from Starving Time, 1609-10). Research by Hudson, Kocher, Forman, Yonge, Caywood, and Shiner. Painting by Sidney E. King.
thinner wall between them. This could indicate possibly that
the room at the west end of Unit A may have been entirely
rebuilt when the north cellar portion was added.
THE AMBLER HOUSE COMPLEX
The most conspicuous ruin on Jamestown Island today is
that of the Ambler House, probably built between 1710 and
1720. This structure burned three times — once during the
Revolutionary War, once during the Civil War, and again in
1898. During the Civil War, Federal soldiers were said to
have torn down the wings to provide materials for bivouacs.
For a history of this house, see Forman (1938, pp. 116-133)
and Tyler.
The Ambler House was a typical large river plantation man-
sion, with central unit (Structure 101) and flanking depend-
encies, or wings, (Structures 30 and 87), connected by walk-
ways (Structures 98 and 99), and small structures (Structures
32 and 97), adjoining the walkways. The central unit measures
54 by 38 feet, and is divided by walls running front to back
into 2 lateral units, each 16 by 33 feet, with a central hall
13 feet wide. The house has a full basement with outside stair-
ways in both east and west walls. It was built of typical 18th-
century bricks, and was stuccoed in the 19th century.
The area east of the standing ruins was excavated in 1935,
and the section to the west in 1940, but no detailed archeo-
logical report was ever prepared on the entire Ambler House
complex. Although their association with the Ambler House
has not been demonstrated conclusively, certain structures, be-
cause of their orientation, may well be remains of Ambler out-
buildings, Structures 54, 59, and 73, (see p. 80). The brick
drain (Structure 89) connects structurally with the corner of
the Ambler House cellar, and the brick drain in Ditch 1 (Struc-
ture 56) and the short brick drain behind the house (Structure
90) may likewise date from the Ambler period.
The gravel road (R-3) definitely belongs with the house,
and obviously dates from the period when the two wings still
stood. The road extending straight out to the river (R-4) is a
later approach to the house, and shows in late 19th-century
28
VJ
-ft
I
B
O
29
PLATE 13— The Ambler House
The Ambler House as it appeared in the early 1950's. It had been stabilized with masonry capping and steel struts in the early 1940*s.
PLATE 14— West Wing of Ambler House
The west wing (Structure 87), the walkway (Structure 98), and the
addition (Structure 97) were all exhibited after investigation as a phase
of the interpretive program for the 1941 travel season. These structures,
since they are post- 17th century, have since been re-covered.
PLATE 15— Structure 32
Structure 32 (Lot 96:108), a small rectangular addition to the north
side of the runway between the east wing of the Ambler House (Struc-
ture 30) and the main house. A comparable structure on the west side
of the Ambler House is Structure 97.
30
photographs (Tyler). The large formal garden, with brick
walks, in the May-Hartwell Tract, also are part of the Ambler
complex. Other problematical structures may likewise belong
to this period, as the Amblers would surely have had extensive
slave quarters and other plantation structures.
NECK OF LAND
Project 114 encompassed the Jamestown utility area prior to
its construction. It was authorized in 1954 on the premise that
a portion of an early 17th-century community might be dis-
turbed. This general locality is described with notable lack of
precision in historical records as "Neck of Land."
Historian Charles E. Hatch, Jr., of Colonial National His-
torical Park, in his report entitled, Summary of Data Relating
to "Neck-of-Land neare James Citty" (Hatch, 1954) was able
to cite definite references to occupation at Neck of Land in the
17th century only as far as the Virginia census of 1624-25 in
which 25 persons are listed as resident here. By comparison,
"The Main" had 88 persons, Glasshouse 5, Archer's Hope 14,
and Jamestown itself 182 persons, not counting another 39
occupying farmland on the island. After 1625 "There is only
an occasional glimpse ... of life as it was lived" at Neck of
Land, writes Hatch.
"The later history of Neck of Land seems even more obscure
than its early phase. No significant settled sites grew into
plantations of note and no famous incidents, or happenings,
appear to have marked the area." The French military map by
Desandroiiins of 1781 does show 1 house standing in the
approximate utility area location, marked "Neck Lands" (see
Figure 8). Nothing was listed in the Hatch report for the
19th and 20th centuries, except the fact that a house was stand-
ing south of the utility area tract in 1954. With this informa-
tion, the work began.
The field operations began between the parkway and Back
River. A 100-foot interval grid oriented on magnetic north
was laid out with the 0-0 point located beyond range of major
operations to the southwest so that the main references read
north and east. Station 1078 plus 00 on the parkway center
line was located at North 1,020, East 1,380. East of E 800
was designated Area A, west of E 800, Area B. Area B was
subdivided into B-l (parkway to N 1,000), B-2 (N 1,000 to
N 500), B-3 (N 500 to N 0), and B-4, the end of the Neck of
Land promontory into Back River. Ground and site plans of
all features at Neck of Land are on file at Jamestown.
Features
Eleven features, all representing structure foundations, were
recorded. Of these, Numbers 2, 5, 8, and 10 (obviously 19th-
or 20th-century buildings connected with farm operation) were,
respectively: a pig pen, shed or barn, a tool shed, and a barn.
Features 1, 3, 4, 7, and 9 all suggested early 19th- or late
18th-century association, although all could have been utilized
through the 19th century. Numbers 1, 3, and 7 were small
outbuildings, indicating possible use, respectively as a milk-
house, smokehouse, and kitchen. Features 4 and 9 were nearly
identical and represented frame houses on masonry pilings each
with a large central fireplace foundation. The No. 9 house
was farthest east from an abandoned late 19th-century house
still standing in 1954 and was presumed to be earlier than the
late 19th century house. Destruction by fire is indicated by
charcoal and fused glass in the soil within and near the founda-
tion. All bricks at Feature 9 house were large and thick, a
standard sample measuring 9 by 4i/2 by 2% inches. No old
mortar was observed to adhere to the exposed brick; therefore
presumably it was not salvaged. The bricks of Features 4 and
9 were uniformly large, but those of Feature 4 walkway were
mixed sizes, half being of a smaller size more comparable to
those of Features 1, 3, and 7. The foundations of Features 4
and 9 alike measured 20 by 40 feet.
The only 17th-century house, Feature 11, was discovered in
the Neck of Land Area B-l, Lot North 1,000 East 500, squares
6, 7, 16, 17, 26, and 27. This structure was 500 feet west
of the abandoned house and its nearby precedent archeological
features. Evidence consisted of a rectangular brick masonry
foundation measuring 17.1 feet east-west by 14.8 feet north-
south, and 15.0 by 12.5 feet inside. The walls were 1.1 foot
thick or the width of a header and a stretcher brick.
Within the walls of Feature 11, the footing of which was
only 2.5 feet from the top of the plow zone, was a brick floor-
ing laid in a regular pattern, east to west, except that a stringer
line was laid next to and parallel with each wall. The east-
west pattern of the floor brick ran counter to a single stringer
line. This stringer extended from the midpoint of the south
wall northward down the middle of the floor to a remnant of
a shallow well located in the north portion of the cellar floor.
Apparently this well was not bricked and measured 1 foot by
1.5 feet. An annex to the south wall exterior opened into the
cellar. This rectangular annex was made up of a single header
of masonry 8I/2 inches thick. It extended 3.5 feet from the
wall and was 4.5 feet wide, overall. The annex interior di-
mensions were 3 feet east-west by 3.5 feet north-south. In the
southeast corner of the cellar was a block or pier of masonry
four bricks high. All walls were of English bond.
Brick sizes for the Feature 11 foundation averaged, in inches,
8I/2 by 41/2 by 2I/3. Of the 4 representative bricks recorded,
3 are tan and soft and 1 is red and fairly hard:
8 V2 by 414 by 2
8 1/2 by 41/2 by 2l/8
8I/4 by 4l/8 by 2 %
8 1/4 by 4i/8 by 2
Artifacts
From the fill of the shallow cellar of Feature 11 the artifacts
between the bottom of the plow zone and the floor appeared
to have uniform type and dating characteristics. These are
summarized as follows:
31
Ceramics:
Earthenware:
Fragments, lead-glazed, locally made pots, ca. 1650
plus — 16
Fragments of lead-glazed, English utility-ware — 3
Fragments of English or Dutch Delftware, blue-on-white
—8
Tobacco pipes:
White bowls, 1640-70—1, 1650-75—3
White stems, Est. 1640-80—17 (5 decorated)
Brown (local) bowls, molded 1650? — 4, modeled (date?)
— 1
Brown (local) stems — 17 (2 decorated, including 1
marbled )
Stoneware:
Blue-on-gray — 3
Brown mottled — 7
Glass:
Bottle, gin — 17
Bottle, wine (early) — 2
Square apothecary-type bottle with screw top — 1
Venetian wineglass stem fragment — 1
Window glass — 2
(Note: 1 fragment of a 19th-century wine bottle was found in
the plow zone and is intrusive.)
Iron:
From the tops of the walls to the plow zone, and from the
interior fill the following items were found:
Handwrought nails and spikes, 2 lbs., assorted and vari-
ous-sized (not cleaned for examination).
Spur — 1
Triangular file — 1
Riveted strap iron fragments, possible barrel hoops.
Ax blade fragment — 1
It can be said that the terminal date for occupation of house
structure, Feature 11, must be about 1675. No exploration was
made beneath the bricks of the floor and no evidence deter-
mined the initial occupation. By implication, however, this
brick structure is probably not older than 1640. The occupa-
tion is roughly comparable to that of Structure 112 on James-
town Island, Area B. It is possible, but not probable, that this
is one of the houses of, say, Richard Kingsmill in 1625.
Other Neck of Land Tests
Strip tests were made at intervals in Areas A and B between
the old Rolfe Highway (formerly State Route 31, now oblit-
erated) and the parkway. These tests yielded no feature data
and only a sparse scattering of 17th-century artifacts, none of
note. Testing at intervals was continued to the southwest be-
tween Rolfe Highway and the parkway beyond Area B to Back
River without disclosing any evidence of occupation.
Tests at 50-foot intervals were continued in Areas B-2, B-3,
and B-4. Tests on B-2 and B-3 indicated only sparse scatter-
ing of 17th-century and more often 18th- to 19th-century detri-
tus, with no structural evidence except an occasional brick frag-
ment. At B-4 on the end of the promontory into Back River,
a trash area (FS 36) was located in a step-sided pit 3.5 feet
deep, maximum, which yielded considerable detritus including
iron artifacts late 18th- or early 19th-century. No structure was
found, but some brick fragments indicated a house was close
by. Random tests failed to locate this structure.
Summary
Of Neck of Land, it can be said that limited tests showed
that considerable sheet erosion has reduced the topsoil here,
leaving it uniformly thin above undisturbed clay. This evi-
dence is further supported by the shallow aspect of the cellar
of the 17th-century house, Feature 11. Probably most of the
occupation associated wtih Neck of Land in 17th-century refer-
ences was actually farther east along the Rolfe Highway (Old
State Route 31), which is itself a very old road, perhaps dating
as far back as the 17th century. In fact, at least one resident
on this road a quarter of a mile east of the Jamestown utility
area found artifacts on his property, offering considerable indi-
cation of late 17th-century type. This material was inspected
and verified in 1955 by John L. Cotter. However, the speci-
mens were not given to the National Park Service.
The right-of-way of the parkway between the utility area
and Glebe Gut (downriver) was also carefully inspected. But
no evidence of 17th-century occupation was found.
The complex of structures located between the utility area
and Back River represented occupation only from the late 18th
through the 20th centuries.
32
Structures and Related Features
From the description of recent excavations and tests, we now
shift to a detailed, catalog treatment of the 141 structures and
related features excavated at Jamestown since 1934.
For easy reference, the following list locates individual struc-
tures or features by page number.
Structure
1
2
3
4 (Weill)
5 (Well 2)
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25 (Well 3)
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Page Structure (Con.) Page
33 45 86
35 46 88
36 47 88
153 48 (Well 4) 153
153 49 91
36 50 92
40 51 92
40 52 92
40 53 74
40 54 80
40 55 92
40 56 28
40 57 (Well 5) 153
41 58 74
42 59 80
42 60 93
45 61 (Well 6) 155
51 62 93
53 63 93
58 64 (Well 7) 155
57 65 74
60 66 (Well 8) 155
62 67 93
62 68 93
153 69 (Well 9) 155
63 70 (Well 10) 156
63 71 83
63 72 81
150 73 80
28 74 83
74 75 (Well 11) 156
28 76 (Well 12) 156
68 77 83
68 78 (Well 13) 68
68 79 (Well 14) 156
68 80 (Well 15) 156
68 81 (Well 16) 156
74 82 (Well 17) 158
81 83 68
81 84 68
83 85 68
86 86 68
86 87 28
74 88 88
Structure (Con.)
89
90
91
92
93
94 (Well 14)
95
96 (Well 15)
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107 (Glass-
house)
108 (Glass-
house)
109 (Glass-
house)
110 (Feature
2)....
111 ( Feature
3)....
112 (Feature
4&5).
113 (Feature
12)...
114 (Feature
16)...
115 (Feature
42)...
116 (Feature
3)....
117 (Feature
36)...
118 (Feature
10)...
119 (Feature
4)....
Page
28
28
94
94
94
156
94
156
28
28
28
94
28
96
98
98
98
98
100
100
100
102
110
112
121
2
121
129
131
135
135
Structure (Con.) Page
120 (Feature
24)...
86
121 (Feature
25)...
136
122 (Feature
18)...
137
123 (Feature
55)...
137
124
140
125 (Feature
72)...
140
126 (Feature
79)...
145
127 (Feature
82)...
145
128 (Ice Pit)
147
129 (Well 18)
157
130 (Well 19)
157
131 (Well 20)
157
132 (Well 21)
158
133 (Feature
57)...
25
134 (Feature
100)..
150
Structure (Con.) Page
135 (Well 22) 158
136 (Well 23) 158
137 2
138 74
139 11
140 (Well 24) 159
141 150
Refuse Pits
RP-1 (Fea-
ture?) 150
RP-2 (Fea-
ture 17) 151
RP-3 &4 . . . 152
RP-5 (Fea-
ture 36) 152
Ditches
D-2 68
D-3 68
D-4 68
D-5 68
D-6 68
D-7 68
D-9 152
D-66 152
Wells Page
W-l 153
W-2 153
W-3 153
W-4 153
W-5 153
W-6 155
W-7 155
W-8 155
W-9 155
W-10 156
W-ll 156
W-12 156
W-13 156
W-14 156
W-15 156
W-16 156
W-17 157
W-18 157
W-19 157
W-20 157
W-21 158
W-22 158
W-23 158
W-24 159
Other Wells. . 159
STRUCTURES 1 AND 2
Structure 1
The foundation of a single house, Structure 1, was discovered
in 1934 partly beneath former State Route 31 in an area desig-
nated Unit A, north of Pitch and Tar Swamp. This house had
a full cellar with indications of an attached portico or room.
The main structure is oriented to face south. The additional
room, which had no cellar beneath it, was attached to the
eastern three-fifths of the south wall. The excavation was done
under the direction of John T. Zaharov, an architect. The
plans were recorded by Architect Fred P. Parris for Historic
American Buildings Survey records (Parris, 1934).* Since no
archeological records, as such, were kept, the available sampling
of certain artifacts recovered from the excavation can only be
studied in the aggregate.
* Historic American Buildings Survey drawings are listed in the Bib-
liography under the names of the architects who produced them and
under dates produced. Some of these drawings are used as illustrations
in this publication. Others are available from the Library of Congress,
Washington 25, D. C.
33
„
PLATE 16 — Structure 1 — General View
Structure 1 in Unit A, north of Pitch and Tar Swamp. General view from east of the structure.
The cellar portion of the foundation, which constitutes vir-
tually all we know of Structure 1, is rectangular. Overall it
measures 25 feet 4 inches north to south by 36 feet 2 inches
east to west, and has a brick-paved floor in the entire inside
area. A 9-inch brick partition runs from north to south divid-
ing the cellar into 2 units, each approximately 16 feet 3 inches
by 22 feet 4 inches, with no circulation between them. The
western unit is divided again by a similar brick partition run-
ning east to west through which there is a doorway. The re-
sulting 2 small rooms are approximately 10 feet 9 inches by
16 feet 3 inches. All walls were bonded at the corners, and
the partitions were bonded to the walls and to each other. The
width of the main walls varies from 1 foot 6 inches to 1 foot
7 inches. The walls have no footings and are laid in English
bond with one exception: in the south wall a soldier course is
laid as the base. The top courses range from 7 feet 7 inches
to 8 feet 1 11/2 inches above mean low tide. The level of the
flooring varies from 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 8 inches above
mean low tide, making the existing cellar depth about 3 feet,
average.
The floors of all three cellar rooms were paved with flatlaid
brick on a mortar base in varied patterns. A shallow brick
channel 4 inches wide and 1 inch deep runs the length of the
large east room in the middle, then angles toward a brick drain
pit, 7% inches by 1 1 inches and 1 foot 3 inches deep. The
drain pit is located at the southeast corner of the room. A
bricked channel 6% inches wide and 6 inches deep was found at
the foot of the first step of the basement entrance in the south
end of the east wall. In the western two rooms of the basement
the south room is paved in a continuous pattern, and the floor
slopes toward a brick drain pit in the southeast corner. The
north room has paving in a row pattern with stretchers breaking
joints at the foot of the steps. The rest of the room is paved
with bricks laid flat in a continuous pattern.
Stairways appear in the west wall of the main structure in
the northwest room and in both the south and east walls of
34
fr
:— rffc
'.u.Uj -
PLATE 17 — Structure 1 Showing Associated Wall Remnants
Structure 1, brick structure with brick-paved cellar areas. In the foreground are wall remnants of Structures 1 and 2, closely associated with
Structure 1.
the large east room. The stairway in the south wall of the east
room retained charred wood in square holes where the treads
of the steps met side walls, showing that a wooden bar or
nosing had once protected the edges of the treads. The walls
of the northwest room were plastered, including the jambs of
the partition doorway and entrance stairway in the west wall.
Recessed header courses in the north wall of this room conveyed
the idea that a cellar window may have been located there.
Conclusive evidence of charring was noted during the excava-
tion, wherever wooden sills and nosings were observable, and
there is no doubt that the structure was destroyed by fire.
Structure 2
This was a light structure foundation of brick in English
bond which was undoubtedly an addition to Structure 1. This
second structure was badly disrupted by the building of State
Route 31 some years previously. Therefore, its dimensions can
only be estimated at 11 feet 6 inches by about 21 feet 6 inches.
At its one junction with the main south wall of Structure 1,
the English bond masonry of Structure 2 is not bonded. Prob-
ably Structure 2 was an additional room which was not origin-
ally planned. This is evident from the fact that a cellar door
in the south wall of Structure 1 opened into it.
The bricks of both Structures 1 and 2 are comparable in color
and size, averaging 9 by 4I/4 by 2% inches and having a color
range from orange-red (soft) to purple-red (hard). The color
and texture variation is due probably to the position of the
brick in the local kiln during firing. Those in the upper portion
are lighter in color and softer. Some Dutch bricks were found
in the fill, but their use is uncertain.
Although no quantitative count of roofing tiles and slates was
made at the time of excavation, evidence is reported of pantiles,
flat tiles (both similar in clay to the brick and presumably
locally made), and roofing slate, presumably British. The flat
tiles were apparently the Elizabethan statute size of 10y2 by
35
6% by % inches. The slate was about 12 by 8 inches, with
2 holes drilled at 1 end for mounting.
The presence of floor tiles is also noted, and the size given
(8l/4 by 8I4 by li/2 inches). However, the provenience is
not stated. Presumably they were found in the fill, since the
drawings do not illustrate them on the cellar floor. The floor
tiles were undoubtedly locally made and correspond in texture
and color to the brick.
The mortar in Structures 1 and 2 is composed of oyster-shell
lime mixed with yellow sand containing too much clay. The
texture is soft and coarse. Samples of plaster made of oyster-
shell lime mixed with white, sharp sand applied directly to the
brick wall or on wooden lath were noted, but no examples of
colored plaster were found.
Hardware
A number of wrought iron spikes with large square heads
and beveled corners were found in and near the foundations.
Presumably these were used in outside doors. Nails," also hand-
wrought, were found in 4 different sizes, ll/2, 2, 2l/2. and 3%
inches. A hasp, pintle, trivet, chimney-crank hook, cabinet or
chest pulls, staple, and catch are also represented.
A fine example of a wrought-iron casement, measuring 2 feet
l!/8 inches by 1 foot 1%6 inches, was discovered a few feet to
the west of Structure 1, and doubtless belonged to it.
Three types of hinges were discovered near the foundation:
H-shaped with perforated ends, butterfly, and strap.
Artifacts (general)
Mentioned in the report on these structures, but not repre-
sented in the catalogue, are Dutch delftware cups, jars, and
plates, and locally made pottery. Specimens from the adjacent
ground are present in the collection and are also locally made,
mainly lead-glazed, rough, red, earthenware. At least 2 com-
plete blue on white Dutch delftware tiles, 5 inches square and
beveled, were found in brick debris 4 inches above the paving
of the east side of the east cellar room where there was an indi-
cation of part of a fireplace jamb. The tiles were each deco-
rated with single representations of soldiers.
Other artifacts located in Structure 1 and now in the James-
town collection include a pricket-type brass candlestick, 8 brass
tacks, 1 iron knife blade, and 175 pieces of glass, all from gin
bottles.
Conclusions
Most of the essential data have been preserved from Structure
1. At least, it is sufficient to give us excellent HABS drawings,
certain artifacts, and the ground plan of the structure as well
as that of the addition, Structure 2. Zaharov believed that the
main house was of frame construction on the brick foundation.
He based his conclusion on the large amounts of charcoal in
the foundation fill and surrounding area, and on the number
of handwrought iron spikes used for large wooden members
(Zaharov, 1935). He guessed that the house was intended for
two families because of the solid cellar partition down the
middle of the building. However, whether or not this member
continued above the cellar is anyone's guess. Likewise, the evi-
dence accepted by Zaharov for two end chimneys depends en-
tirely on inferential evidence of a fireplace jamb in the brick
debris, together with some Dutch tile fragments, along the east
main wall, inside. Harrington, however, was convinced that
the structure was of brick (Harrington, 1941). We can con-
clude only that the foundations were adequate to support at
least one brick story.
Unluckily, the identification of clay pipes, if they survived
from the Structure 1 and Structure 2 excavations, is lacking in
the Jamestown collection. Zaharov mentions only "broken 17th
century clay pipes and fragments of crude earthenware dishes,
probably of local origin" from Structure 2. The best remaining
datable artifact evidence is both positive and negative: a quan-
tity of gin bottle fragments was found in Structure 1, but no
wine bottles. Since wine bottles were not introduced until
after 1640, and gin bottles were common before that date, it
appears likely that Structures 1 and 2 date from the first half
of the 17th century, probably before 1640. The balance of
artifacts reported from these structures would tend to support
this inference.
Wells No. 1 and 17, respectively, were located 112 and 103
feet from Structure 1 to the west and north. It is logical to
assume that these two wells were associated with the house.
Artifacts from these wells, the first excavated by the National
Park Service, were not catalogued separately from those of the
lots in which they occurred ; therefore, they cannot be examined
for dating.
STRUCTURE 3
Structure 3 was a brick masonry wall fragment lying 50 feet
south of Structure 1 in Unit A, north of Pitch and Tar Swamp.
It was not definitively explored in 1934, and no archeological
data or artifacts are recorded for it.
STRUCTURE 6
This house did not have the advantage of a methodical arche-
ological excavation whereby all the artifacts and data might
have been preserved and recorded for analysis. Nevertheless,
Architect H. C. Forman has furnished the necessary minimum
information (Forman, 1935c) in excellent Historic American
Buildings Surveys records. Fred P. Parris made these HABS
drawings in 1935 following Forman's uncovering of Structure
6 foundations (Parris, 1935c). Basically, the structure is a
simple rectangle, 48l/2 by 211/2 feet. It has substantial walls,
18 inches wide, constructed of brick laid in English bond with
closers used at the outside corners and on the west of two
opposite interior fireplaces. The long axis is east-west. Brick
steps 4l/2 feet wide with 9 inch risers and wood nosings adjoin
36
."
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PLATE 18 — Structure 6 Foundation ajter Excavation
Structure 6 foundation viewed from the west, shortly after excavation. At the upper left may be seen the superficial foundation remnant of
Structure 7, presumably an addition.
the east fireplace leading to the outside. The foundation en-
closed a cellar area a little over 3 feet below present ground
surface. Beyond the foundation are fragmentary remains of
two parallel brick walls (Structure 7). These walls, in turn,
are parallel to the main north wall of Structure 6. The 2
parallel walls are only 2 brick courses high and may be con-
sidered representative of a less substantial structure, probably
a wood addition to the main house.
The cellar was unpaved and possibly had a dirt floor. It had
two parallel brick footings along the middle mark, north to
south. The wall tops range from 9.12 feet to 8.72 feet and
the cellar floor from 7.03 feet to 6.23 feet above mean low
tide. The latter figure represents a trace of brick paving at
the east end of the east room.
On the basis of typical early house plans of Virginia and
Maryland, Forman concludes that Structure 6 had a room on
either side of a central partition, and fireplaces flush with the
gable ends, the whole structure being brick, l1/^ stories high
(Forman, 1935c). The water-table bricks were chamfered and
laid in the Flemish bond pattern since there are headers and
stretchers. Lawrence A. Kocher's reconstruction sketch, which
furnished the pattern for Sidney E. King's painting of the
Structure 6 house, agrees substantially with Forman's recon-
struction. The house turns out to be strikingly comparable to
the Smith's Fort Plantation (Rolfe family) house across the
James River from Jamestown Island, in Surry County. Accord-
ing to tradition the Rolfe house dates from the first half of
the 17th century. Forman pictures the 2 partitions forming a
hallway in the first floor 10 feet wide, with the larger room on
the west about 20 by 8l/2 feet, and the smaller room l4i/2
by I8I/2 feet.
Since no ownership data and plats are known for the Struc-
ture 6 area, nothing is known of the identity of this house.
However, it is not difficult to arrive at a reasonable dating
37
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38
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PLATE 19 — Structure 6 — A Conjectural Drawing
Structure 6 (Lot 96:102), a substantial brick foundation with enclosed end fireplaces, fronted upon the James River. Structural evidence indicated
i central, front-to-back hall. On the east end was a stairway access to the cellar. To the rear was an addition on a light brick foundation — possibly a
rame lean-to. A brick walkway approached the front from the south. Structure 6 history is unknown. Archeological evidence places it in the last half
)f the 17th century, and possibly into the 18th. The structure appears to interrupt Ditch 25 which is therefore probably precedent to the structure,
nterpretation by Sidney E. King after research by Hudson and Kocher.
hypothesis. The size of the brick (relatively small, 8J/4 inches
long) and the relatively small size of the fireplace openings
(3 feet 8 inches) indicated to Forman that the building was
not built early in the 17th century. Glass and ceramic artifacts
were, unfortunately, catalogued as coming from Lot 62 generally,
without specifying structure association. There are 3 other
small structures besides Structure 6 here. The preponderance
of wine-bottle fragments, with only a scattering of gin bottles
(the wine bottles represent every date from the latter half of
the 17th century to the 19th century), together with Dutch and
English delftware and locally made earthenware, and the types
of stoneware, all indicate that the house dated probably between
1650 and 1676. In fact, the house could have been recon-
structed to serve through the end of the 17th century.
In the 1940's elaborate pains were taken to preserve the
foundation and cellar of Structure 6 in situ, but frost and other
weathering attrition has taken a steady toll. Much of the brick-
work has been replaced, and will continue to be replaced, as
long as the fragments of masonry remain exposed.
Structure 6, Artifacts
Forman recorded only a sampling of artifacts recovered in the
excavation. Since his interest was architectural, only bricks,
tiles, slates, and hardware are included. The remainder of the
objects, ceramic and glass mainly, was recorded only by the 100-
foot lot, and has been mentioned above. The hardware in-
cluded wrought nails, an ornamental latch bar, hasps, hasp frag-
ment, a strap hinge with circular enlargement near the pintle
end, a wedge-shaped padlock, mushroom-headed spikes, finial,
pintles of several sizes, a key, a hook, staple, and some lock
fragments — all of iron. A brass tack and a brass hinge frag-
ment were recorded. The tiles were: 1 pantile fragment, some
39
Slate
Brass :
Round-headed tack
y8-inch hinge
Roofing slate fragment
PLATE 20 — Chimney Base of Structure 6
The west end chimney base of Structure 6 at completion of excavation.
plain tiles, and a floor tile 7*4 inches square by 1% inches thick.
These artifacts are summarized below:
Ceramic:
Brick: Samples of 4 representative bricks measure as follows,
in inches:
8V4 by 4 by 2%
85/8 by 4% by 2%
8i/4 by 4l/4 by 2%
8 by 4 by 2 %«
Water-table headers and stretchers were noted, and a flat arch
brick was reported.
Tiles: Flat tiles and 1 fragment of pantile with nob were re-
ported by Forman.
Delft: Several hundred blue delft fragments were recovered
from Lot 62.
Earthenware, general: Mostly local, lead-glazed, from Lot 62.
Metal:
Iron:
y8-inch wrought-iron ornamental latch bars 9
%-inch hasps 3
3-inch hasp (broken) 1
%-inch S-hook 1
Strap hinge 1
Wedge-shaped padlock 1
Spikes, mushroom-head 3
Finial, wrought-iron 1
7-inch pintle 1
5-inch pintle 1
4V4-inch pintle 2
4V2-inch pintle 3
2% -inch key 1
Lock fragments 9
2i/8-inch staple 1
SV^-inch hook 1
Wrought-iron nails noted
STRUCTURES 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, AND 13
Structure 7 comprises 2 parallel wall fragments, 2y2 feet
apart, and oriented parallel with the north wall of Structure 6.
The walls are HV2 feet from Structure 6 and appear to be a
frame addition to that house. This hypothesis is based on the
fact that the walls are only 2 brick-thicknesses deep, although
they are 2 header bricks (17 to 18 inches) wide, the same as in
Structure 6, and likewise in English bond. Apparently they
were not meant to support a heavy structure.
No associations of artifacts are recorded for Structure 7.
However, the observations made on the collection from Lot 62,
including Structures 6, 7, 9, and part of 8, would presumably
apply in this case. (See artifact listing for Structure 6 above.)
No archeological record (1934-35) was kept of Structure 8,
although a rough measured drawing was made which allows
sufficient detail for estimating the dimensions and essential
character of the house. The evidence shows that this was a
simple rectangular foundation approximately 30 by 20 feet
overall, the long axis oriented on magnetic north and south.
The walls were made up of whole bricks and fragments of
bricks. At the corners, except the northwest, the masonry was
made of river stones set directly on undisturbed clay. No wall
is more than 2 courses of bricks high, and the width is approxi-
mately 1 foot, or a stretcher and a header. The bond is English.
The elevation of the base course is an average 9.5 feet above
mean low tide.
A single partition 8 inches (1 header) wide divides the
foundation into a south room 17y2 by 10y2 feet and a north
room 17!/2 by 15 or 14 feet, depending upon the location of
the north wall of which only a trace is recorded. In the south-
west portion of the north room is a closet or fireplace base
approximately 9 by 5 feet. Some of the floor bricks of this
area were observed to have been burned. The bricks of Struc-
ture 8 were very poorly preserved a year after exposure.
No artifact associations are reported for Structure 8, but it is
reasonable to assume that this was a domestic structure of 2
rooms and a fireplace, constructed of wood on a light brick and
stone foundation.
Structure 9 was a very tenuous trace of disintegrated brick
masonry. Presumably, it represented a single course 5 feet long
and 15 inches wide. This wall lay at right angles to the north
wall of Structure 8 from 2 to 4 feet to the north. It probably
represented an addition to Structure 8.
A line of closely associated structural fragments (Structures
10, 11, 12, and 13) extends 59 feet in an east-west direction
in Lot 96:103. Whether or not these fragments were actually
40
integrated into 1 or 2 buildings is uncertain, the more so since
the exploration of this lot in 1934-35 was partial and scantily
recorded.
Structure 10 was recorded simply as a brick fireplace founda-
tion situated 4 feet 7 inches from the west wall of Structure 11
and opening away from it, to the west. No house foundations
were recorded to enclose this fireplace, but its proximity to
Structure 11 and the fact that it is oriented parallel with that
structure, suggests strongly that the two were related, and there-
fore contemporaneous. The back wall of Structure 11 is nearly
18 inches wide and the side walls are 13 inches wide. The
opening is 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep. The bond is not
described.
Structure 11 may be considered the nuclear and most com-
plete foundation trace, indicating a rectangular building oriented
north-south (magnetic). Its overall dimensions are 32 feet
2 inches by 16 feet. The walls are the width of a single header
and are measured as 9 to 9l/2 inches, possibly indicating a
rather long brick. However, absence of any definite brick
measurements makes this observation tentative. A wall frag-
ment projects at a right angle beyond the east wall.
The central portion of the building contains what was most
probably the base of a fireplace with 18-inch walls, opening
into the south room (5 feet 10*4 inches by 3 feet 6 inches in-
terior measurement) and possibly having had a closet 3 feet
51/> inches by 3 feet iy4 inches, interior dimensions, between
the fireplace and west wall of the house. North of this fire-
place appears a rectangular brick pavement 4 feet 3 inches by
9 feet 5 inches. The south portion of the interior of the build-
ing contained a hole 2 feet deep and measuring nearly square,
5 feet 7 inches by 5 feet 2 inches. The hole, dug into undis-
turbed clay, was filled with "glass ware, pipestems, etc."
The light foundation indicates a frame structure. The large,
substantial central brick feature presumably was a fireplace with
a closet or possibly an oven at the side.
Structure 12 was a brick pavement 12 feet 3 inches square.
It lies at an elevation of 9-3 feet above mean low tide, 12 feet
from the east wall of Structure 11. This pavement was prob-
ably connected with the fragmentary wall and extended from it
at right angles. The nature of the side wall foundations, about
9 inches wide, suggests a frame structure over a subsidiary struc-
ture connected to Structure 12 — possibly a storehouse, milk-
house, or smokehouse. It is significant that a 1 foot square
central well, 1 foot deep with a brick bottom, is shown on the
architectural plan. It is noted as a drain, although it may have
had another use. A typical brick of this structure is described
as 8 y4 by 4 by 2y4 inches, red in color. The bond of the walls
is English and the floor bricks were laid flat in regular parallel
pattern.
Structure 13 is a small fragment of a brick foundation wall
8 to 9 inches wide lying 7 feet east of Structure 12. Most
jrobably Structure 1 3 was part of the single building or closely
integrated buildings which lie immediately west and in parallel
orientation. Its use is unknown.
STRUCTURE 14
This structural remnant of brick masonry was partially ex-
cavated in 1934 and left undescribed except for a measured
plan which shows it to have been a simple U-shape with parallel
arms 6 feet 1 inch long joined together by a straight connecting
wall 12 feet long, overall measurements. The width of the
walls is 16 inches and the elevation of the top of the masonry
is 9.7 feet. The number of courses and type of bond are not
described. The inside dimensions are 9 by 4l/2 feet. Although
this feature is referred to in the Jamestown records as a fire-
place, there is no supporting evidence except the shape, which
is right for a fireplace but extraordinarily large.
Possibly the most significant thing about Structure 14 is that
it is oriented considerably east of north, so that it is not in
exactly the same alinement as the other structures of Lots 96:102
and 96:103, namely, Structures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.
Hence, it may be inferred that Structure 14 was of a different
period.
Nothing can be said of the artifacts associated with Structure
14 except what has been described for the lots cited above. (See
Structure 6 and Structures 10, 11, 12, 13.)
The artifacts associated with Structures 10, 11, 12, 13, and
14, all lie within Lot 96:103. When this lot was excavated in
1934-35, artifacts were catalogued as having been found in this
lot. No further provenience by location or depth was recorded.
Hence, it is not possible to determine what artifacts were di-
rectly associated with the complex of foundations which may
represent a single structural group. However, some significance
may be attached to these artifacts, since these are the only struc-
tures occurring in this lot, and it naturally may be assumed that
they were concentrated among these foundations. A summary
follows :
Earthenware: Several hundred stem and bowl fragments
of tobacco pipes were found, including 2 LE- and 1 RN-
initialed bowls. Bowl shapes range from 1670 to 1750
and are borne out in dating by the shape and apertures
of the stem fragments. Numerous earthenware sherds
were found. The majority of these are definitely 18th-
century in rim shape and represent lead-glazed utility
vessels, mostly wide-mouthed pots. Some of the coarse-
tempered earthenware sherds may be from North Devon.
Other examples of light and dark lead-glazed wares are
undoubtedly imported from England. Locally made
earthenware is probably represented, but the proportion
cannot be determined at this time.
Delfrware: This pottery is well represented, and is charac-
teristically 18th-century English in type, with a few
sherds of 17th-century Dutch admixed.
Glass: Large quantities of wine bottle glass were found
in Lot 63, but only a few fragments of gin bottles and
possible window glass. It is significant that the wine
41
FIGURE 8— French Military Map of 1781
Military map drawn in 1781 by Colonel Desandroiiins of the French Army.
bottle shapes range mainly in the 18th century, with a
few 17th- and 19th-century shapes represented.
Metals: Metals cannot be singled out of the collection at
Jamestown at this time.
It is worthy to note that 20 houses appear on Colonel Desan-
droiiin's French Army map of 1781, scattered from the begin-
ning of the disrupted isthmus to Orchard Run and clustered
east of the church. It is not likely that these houses were all
ruins or foundation holes, since such information would have
been useless on a military map at that time. If they were indeed
houses, they were probably habitable, or certainly were so during
the half century preceding. Thus, it can be recorded that at
this particular location several 18th-century houses are definitely
recorded on a contemporary map. Furthermore, it is not im-
probable that the foundations considered in Lot 96:103 and
adjacent lots may themselves be 18th century — especially if they
were made of reclaimed brick. That they were frame is fairly
certain.
STRUCTURE 15
This feature, reported in 1934 as a brick fireplace foundation,
consisted of a single course of masonry laid in English bond
on a bed of mortar which in turn rested upon loam. The loam
or old humus was half a foot thick above undisturbed clay;
hence, the fireplace had a very shallow footing. The back of
the fireplace was 7 feet 11 inches long overall, and both arms
were approximately 5 feet long. The inside dimensions were
5 feet 5 inches (back) by 3 feet 6 inches from front to back.
The elevation of the top of the masonry was 9.6 feet. The
bricks varied from 8y8 to 9V& inches long, averaging 9 inches.
The width of the bricks ranged from 4\/8 to 4% and averaged
4% inches; thickness was from 2I/4 to 2%, and averaged 2y2
inches. The color was dark orange, the texture was fine, and
the bricks were relatively soft.
Although the whole of Lot 95:103, in which Structure 15
lies, was excavated, no definite indication of a frame building
was noted, except for a single, square posthole 3 feet southwest
of the fireplace. Nevertheless it must be assumed that the struc-
ture was frame.
As in the case of the other structures in Lot 95:103, namely
Structures 16, 71, 72, 74, 77, and 41, only a few records of
provenience within structures were kept. However, we do know
that a shallow refuse deposit lay 10 feet to the south. In it
were found several wrought-iron pintles, a keyhole escutcheon,
2 rings which may be doorknockers, 4 strap hinges, and other
wrought-iron objects. The artifacts for the lot taken in the
aggregate are of the late 17th century extending well into the
1 8th century.
For example, the bulk of the stoneware is definitely 18th-
century English, plus a smaller proportion of German stoneware
possibly 17th century. An enormous quantity of wine-bottle
debris designated only by lot and depth is uniformly 18th
century, some probably reaching the end of the century. These
fragments are listed only by lot number and depth, viz: old
catalogue No. 6609 — 6,000 fragments, 0-12 inches; No. 6610
— 6,000 fragments, 1-2 feet. Old catalog number 6612 in-
cludes a number of fragments clearly from 1700 to 1720 which
were recovered from a depth of 32 to 42 inches — obviously in
cellar or pit locations. Tobacco pipes are listed as 3,000 from
this lot. They are clearly 18th century, mostly in the first half,
and include the following initials: LE — 4 examples, WE — 6,
R— 2, IF— 19.
In the light of this evidence, it can only be said that the
brick sizes suggest the foundation of Structure 15 fireplace was
constructed late in the 17th century or early in the 18th, and
that artifacts in the vicinity — not in the building proper —
indicate 18th-century occupation.
STRUCTURE 16
Structure 16 (Lot 95:103) is well represented by HABS
architectural drawings (Parris, 1936). More notes on proveni-
ence of artifacts within the foundation and area were kept than
on most structures excavated in the mid-1930's. By its singular
shape, Structure 16 undoubtedly had a specialized use. It was
42
*
,>"■.
• »
PLATE 21 — Structure 16 — Frame Structure with Brick Chimney
Structure 16, an elongated frame structure with a large brick chimney at the south end and a small double cellar in part of its area. The brick
drain, Structure 39, is in the background. (See Lot 95:103.)
a long, narrow rectangle, 35 feet 9 inches long and 11 to liy2
feet wide overall, oriented north-south. It had a large fireplace
foundation slightly inset at the south end. The lateral and
north walls are 9 inches (or 1 header) wide, and are superfi-
cially laid on humus in a single course of fragmentary bricks.
The fireplace is 1 foot 2 inches thick and 4 courses deep, rest-
ing on undisturbed clay. Coursing is English bond.
The most notable feature of Structure 16 is a pair of joined,
rectangular bins that are lined and floored with brick. This is
a single course of brick all around except for the partition di-
viding the bins. This partition is 1 header (8 to 9 inches)
thick. The depth of the bins was 2 feet from the top of the
remaining side walls to the surface of the brick floor. The
north bin measured 7 feet by 4 feet 8 inches, and the south
bin, 8 feet 3 inches by 6 feet 8 inches. The south bin wall
was only 2 feet from the opening of the presumed fireplace
foundation at the south end of the whole structure. The bin
sides were coated with rough plaster.
Bricks vary in color and hardness from salmon-color (softer)
to red-orange, red, and purple (progressively harder). Bricks
from the south fireplace average 8l/2 by 4 by 2%6 inches.
Cross-wall bricks average 8% by 4]/^ by 2%6 inches. Bin
bricks average 8% by 4]/8 by 2y16 inches. North end and
side walls are brickbats.
It seems evident then that Structure 16 was built for some
specialized use. The few artifacts for which the location within
the structure is clearly indicated give evidence of 18th-century
dating. Twelve fragments of wine bottles were located between
and under two courses of brickwork at the bins, according to
the excavator's record. Therefore, we may assume that this
evidence was truly contemporary with the construction of the
building. The fragments indicate the early 18th century. Again,
43
PLATE 22— Structure 16 in Detail
South end of Structure 16 in detail, looking east. The massive masonry of the south end fireplace contrasts with the light, narrow footing of east
and west sides, composed of scrap brick halves — obviously indicating a wooden structure above. A small partitioned cellar occupied only a part of the
area of this narrow structure. The diagonal line of bricks at the upper right is the brick drain, Structure 39, probably subsequent to Structure 16 as well
as to Structure 40-72.
inside the foundation at a depth of 12 to 14 inches and below
the top of the brick wall, a nearly complete wine bottle was
recovered and is now restored. This bottle, with its straight
sides and neck shape, is clearly 18th century, characteristic of
the first half and possibly as late as the third quarter.
Time does not allow a careful separation by provenience of
several thousand stoneware and earthenware sherds known to
come from Lot 95:103. Thus we cannot relate directly the
sherds which came from in and near the foundation. However,
the great majority of both stoneware and earthenware pieces
from the lot are definitely 18th century. Only 4 pipestem frag-
ments are available at this time from the collection. These are
related definitely to the fill within the foundation of Structure
16, at a depth of from 2 to 6 inches. For what this superficial
evidence is worth, 2 white pipestems have diameters of %4 and
%4 of an inch, respectively, and are thus characteristic of the
period 1680-1750. Two clay stems have hole diameters of
%4 of an inch, but as such, like other locally made pipes, are
characterized by larger hole diameters than the English-made
kaolin pipes.
Of the remainder of artifacts, chiefly metal, one is of prime
significance, namely a coin described by the excavators and
catalogued as "Virginia 1773" (old catalogue number 831).
This coin was screened from the fill of the south bin. Un-
fortunately, it cannot be located in the collection at this time,
but the data of its finding are reliable. Thus we may place
the filling in of the foundation not earlier than 1773. Excellent
HABS drawings have been made of the foundation and sketches
44
PLATE 23 — Structure 17 after 1934 Excavations
At the completion of the 1934 excavations by the National Park Service. View from the south (Lot 93:106).
of wrought-iron artifacts accompany these sheets ; however, upon
checking the records, it has been determined that many of the
latches, pintles, a pot hook, strap hinges, H-hinges, butterfly
hinge, nails, and spikes were not found in the foundation, but
elsewhere in the same lot. It can only be said that 2 iron
hasps, 1 iron hook, 1 iron wing nut, 8 iron buckles, 23 pieces
of miscellaneous iron, not described, and 1 brass buckle were
found within the foundation of Structure 16. A finely deco-
rated pipe (deer in punctate lines) locally made, possibly Indian,
was found in the fill.
As for the interpretation of data available on Structure 16,
a fairly definitive dating of building and use suggests itself:
The structure was built late in the 17th or early in the 18th
century of salvaged bricks and brickbats. It probably survived
until the Revolutionary War period, when it may have been
among the cluster of buildings recorded in this area on the
French military map of 1781.
STRUCTURE 17
Structure 17 (Lots 93:106 and 94:106) is described by Hatch
in America's Oldest Legislative Assembly (Hatch, 1956, p. 18)
and is well represented in the HABS records (Parris, 1935).
It was originally identified in 1932 as the First Statehouse by
George C. Gregory, of Richmond, Va., an ardent researcher
into Jamestown historical records. Gregory's reasoning was
based on the premise that the building fits in general a ground
plan description in existing documents, and because it appeared
to be in the general area where he thought the First Statehouse
should be. Gregory was responsible for clearing the easterly
unit and exposing the tops of the main walls of the entire
structure which he measured and sketched. No useable artifact
data, however, have been preserved from his, or previous, dig-
ging at Structure 17. Yonge, almost 30 years previously, had
placed the First Statehouse along the shore some 600 feet north-
45
PLATE 24 — Structure 11 Viewed from West
After excavation, from the west.
west of Structure 17. This placement was conjecturally based
on documentary evidence. In 1901 Mr. and Mrs. Edward E.
Barney, owners of the island, actually discovered the eastern-
most room of Structure 17 and exposed the cellar.
Henry C. Forman offers a categorical assumption that Struc-
ture 17 is the First Statehouse (Forman, 1938, pp. 102-115).
However, Forman is less positive in his 1935 report on Struc-
ture 17 for the National Park Service (Forman, 1935). In the
report he says:
These three facts [hardware types, bonding of brick walls of the
basement, and general house plan] point to the erection of this building
in the 17th century, but do not prove that it was built then. . . . Any
conclusions herein as to the old design of the building are extremely
hypothetical. . . . Whether the building above the foundation was
frame or brick is unknown. No check on the amount of brick taken
from the foundation during the first government excavation was ever
made, and even this check, if made would not prove the building was
of brick. [He observed definite evidence that the entire building had
burned.]
On the basis of improved knowledge since 1935 of the dating
of artifacts, notably ceramic, it is now possible to analyze the
objects found in the excavation of Structure 17 more confidently
as to period. An inspection of clay tobacco pipes found in the
fill of the foundation reveals that all but a few are definitely
last quarter 17th century, or early 18th century. Since clay
pipes were quickly expended and were not ordinarily regarded
as heirlooms, we may assume that these bowl and stem frag-
ments truly represent the final stage of the use of the house,
just prior to destruction. However, we cannot overlook the
possibility that some pipe fragments may represent fill tossed
into the open foundation cellar. In this case they would repre-
sent a certain time lag and a more recent date.
Actually, the great number of pipestems — approximately
2,200 — and over 200 pipe-bowl fragments together with the
numerous fragments of wine bottles from this excavation, sug-
gest that Structure 17 may well have been a tavern in its later
use. Indeed, since there is a uniform age grouping, it is not
likely that all were thrown into the cellar after the destruction
of the house. Of special interest is a reddish-brown locally
molded pipe of third quarter appearance which was found be-
neath the floor of the center section. A pewter basin, 13 inches
in diameter and 3V2 inches high, now in the collection at
Jamestown, is described by Col. E. E. Barney as having been
found by him in the cellar of the eastern unit of Structure 17.
The basin is a characteristic 18th-century product.
46
Out of the glass evidence from this structure, it may be noted
that 11 trays of fragments are chiefly of wine bottles dating
from about 1650 to 1720. A small proportion is from gin
bottles. However, it is significant that bottle seals are of great
importance to the identification of Structure 17. Curiously, not
one bottle seal was reported found in the ruins or vicinity of
Structure 17. However, on August 9, 1935, Charles S. Marshall,
historian at Colonial National Historical Park, entered in the
park records that the cluster of 13 "HG" seals, centered 260
feet northwest of Structure 17 and 80 feet from the present
shoreline, could have special significance:
... I have just found what proves to be the connecting link in the
identification of one of the most important foundations at Jamestown.
Because of its importance in itself and also because we know its exact
distance from the 17th century shore line, we have been very anxious
to locate and identify the foundation of the so-called "first brick state
house." We have quite a lot of data on it, including the fact that part
of it later belonged to and was the home of George Marable but we have
been unable to determine its exact location. The foundation, officially
designated as Structure 17, is thought by Mr. George C. Gregory to be
the state house. In many ways it answers the description but several
of the Jamestown workers have felt that Structure 17 was too far east
to fit the conditions perfectly.
Last week, while working in the Surry County Clerk's office examin-
ing the 17th century court records, I found the following order under
date of July 3, 1683: "mr Hen: Gawler who married the Exex of mr
George Marable not appeareing to prosecute his accon agt Tho: Sowerby
agt the said Gawler Damadge according to Law with Costs als Exec.
[Orders 1671-1690, Page 409.]
Although we have never located Marable's will and hence cannot say
positively that his executrix was also his widow, still when we consider
the customs of the times and all the facts of the case we can feel reason-
ably sure that this was the case. Since we know that prior to his death
Marable owned and lived in what had previously been the state house
it is reasonable to assume that Henry Gawler lived there after marrying
his executrix. We have definite proof from other sources that Gawler
had a house in "James City" but there is no reference anywhere in the
land records, yet located, to Gawler's either buying or selling a house.
Hence it is logical to assume that he lived in a house which he treated
as his own but which, in the strict letter of the law, belonged to some
one else. This assumption fits perfectly with the facts as stated.
At this point the archeologists gave me the final piece of evidence.
Mr. Day tells me that they have located a number of bottle buttons
[seals] with the initials "HG" about 60 or 70 yards west of Structure 17.
In the case of Henry Hartwell, one of the most prominent residents
at Jamestown, the location of bottle buttons with the letters "HH"
definitely proved that our tentative location of his land was correct.
If, upon further examination of the area around the location of the
"HG" buttons, the archeologists locate a foundation which fits the
known description of the state house, then the bottle buttons will com-
plete the story, establish the location of the first brick state house in
America and give us one of the most definite clues possible as to the
exact location of the 17th-century shore line.
The early enthusiasm of the historian for the new-found evi-
dence did not, however, prove entirely justified. Excavation in
the area where the First Statehouse was assumed to have been
gave no structural evidence which corresponded to physical
descriptions. Yet several houses of modest size, mostly frame
on brick foundations or with brick fireplaces, are represented in
the area by Structures 21, 71, 41, 40, 16, 8, and 51. Thus,
if the HG seals are at all significant, it would appear that they
lay beyond 100 feet north of the First Statehouse, and that this
foundation has been washed away.
It is equally notable that no bottle seals at all appear to have
been recovered from the foundations of Structure 17. This is
especially significant since the bottles clearly represent the latter
part of the 17th century to 1720 when bottle seals were begin-
ning to become fashionable.
A resume of the pottery material from Structure 17 recovered
by the excavators of 1934-35 indicates that considerable earthen-
ware and stoneware is present representing the middle of the
17th century. Most specimens clearly belong to the last half.
For Foundation 2, the center section and the presumed First
Statehouse, the ceramic evidence is nearly all middle to late
17th century. There is only a trace of 18th century which
would be an expected intrusion in any case. Foundation 3
ceramic evidence is preponderantly 18th century. Roofing tiles
are present, probably locally made. (These tiles are not datable
because tile sizes, by statute, were uniform since the 15th cen-
tury, and Jamestown does not appear to have made innovations.)
It is interesting to record the observation of Malcolm Watkins.
He noted that at least 2 sherds of local lead -glazed earthenware
from Structure 17 bore all the characteristic marks of paste,
firing, and design idiosyncracies of the potter who made the
Green Spring lead-glazed earthenware. Besides these sherds
at Structure 17 are half a dozen sherds of earthenware which
are extremely overfired and which appear to be wasters. These
overfired sherds, however, bear the same manufacturing charac-
teristic of rim, base, and surface striation noted in Green Spring
earthenware. The inference is that both groups of specimens
represent the work of the Green Spring potter in the third
quarter of the 17th century. A pottery kiln (Sructure 27) has
been discovered 680 feet upstream from Structure 17, near the
present shoreline.
At least another pottery kiln (Structure 111, near Pitch and
Tar Swamp) has been proved at Jamestown. Both of these
local kilns were probably in operation before mid-century.
Unfortunately, in the absence of definite waster piles associated
with them, it is not possible to be sure of the potter's handiwork.
From the brief narrative report submitted on the excavation
of Structure 17 by Henry C. Forman, May 4, 1935, to the
National Park Service (Forman, 1935a), supplemented ulti-
mately by excellent HABS drawings and artifact renderings, the
following data has been extracted:
Foundations, Dimensions, and Interior Features
The overall foundation size is 43I/2 by 64 feet, divided into 3
almost equal rectangular sections, with long sides adjacent.
Each section measures inside 20 by 401/2 feet, approximately.
The cellar walls average 4 feet in height. Observing that the
west wall of the middle section is only 1 brick thick (9 inches
approximately) and is bonded into the north and south walls
of the western section, Forman believes that the western section
47
48
of the 3-unit house is of a later period than the combined
eastern and middle sections.
Six cellar rooms, 2 to each of the 3 sections, are separated
by double fireplaces. The south room of each section is ap-
proximately 3 feet longer than the corresponding north room.
On the western side of each double fireplace foundation is an
access between north and the south rooms, with enough addi-
tional space for a closet. No doorways were made in the cellar
partitions. Wooden sill traces were noted in the doorways of
small passageways of the middle and western sections.
Stairways
Each of the six rooms has an entrance stairway in the outside
wall. Each stairway is placed near the eastern ends of each
wall section, except for the stair in the south wall of the western
section, which is in the middle. The south stairway of the
middle section and the north stairway of the western section do
not bond with the main walls. These stairways were probably
added at a later time, according to Forman's observations. Stair
width averages 3 feet 6 inches to 4 feet, and there are 7 or 8
risers in each stair. The risers average 8 inches and the treads
vary from 8 to 11 inches. Traces of wood nosing were found
on every stair except the one on the south side of the middle
section which had brick nosings.
Walls
English bond is used throughout the foundations. Wall
thicknesses vary: north and south, 18l/2 inches; east, 14 inches;
west, 13V2 inches; eastern partition, I3V2 mches; western par-
tition, 9 inches. The excavation report mentions that what little
remained of the original plaster on the walls was composed of
oyster-shell lime and marl applied directly to the brick. How-
ever, photographs show such mortar only on the partition walls.
The mortar is composed of oyster-shell lime and sand. In the
western section and in the eastern inner partition the mortar
was softer and more crumbly and made with fewer oyster shells
than the exterior walls of the middle and eastern sections.
The average size of the brick in the exterior walls of the
middle section is 9 by 41^ by 2% inches. Four courses make
1 foot. The joint is % of an inch wide. Brick in the exterior
wall of the western section is typically 8% by 4 by 2% inches.
Four courses make 121/4 inches and the joint is % of an inch.
The median color of the brick is orange-red. The joints are
trowel-struck so that each joint face slopes back from top to
bottom.
The footings rest on undisturbed clay, as far as observed.
Projected or spread footings were found in part of the exterior
east wall, in the north wall of the eastern section, in the wall
between the fireplaces of the middle section, and in the facings
of the west side of these fireplaces. It is significant to note
that the footing of an older wall was discovered beneath the
eastern interior partition, separated by a zone consisting of
broken brick, mortar, sand, and oyster shell, 2i/2 to 4l/2 inches
in thickness.
Forman notes that the eastern interior partition does not bond
with the exterior walls and has an older footing beneath it.
Also, it has the same kind of mortar as that in the western
section. It may thus be supposed that, if the western section
is later, as Forman thinks, the eastern partition may have been
rebuilt at the same time the western section was added.
Floors
Flooring in each of the 3 main units differs. The floor of
the eastern section appears to have been unpaved except for a
portion of the floor of the north room which was laid with
Dutch brick set on edge in a continuous pattern. In the middle
section the north room has a continuous pattern of local colonial
brick laid flat, whereas the southern room of this section has a
varied but continuous pattern of whole bricks and fragments of
brick laid flat and mingled with irregular fragments of slate
flagstone. The floor of the western section is of local brick
laid on edge, continuously. The bricks of the western and
eastern sections were laid on sand, but those of the floor of
the central section were set on a thin layer of sand which over-
lays a deposit of oyster shells and broken bricks averaging an
inch thick. Below the latter layer was undisturbed sand.
Fireplaces
The foundations of double fireplaces, placed back to back
between the north and south rooms of the respective 3 sections
of Structure 17, were observed to have fire evidence only in the
north halves. Hence, it is assumed that the southern halves
were only for the support of fireplaces in the rooms above. In
the south rooms of the middle and western sections, the arch
springs of the foundation remain, the arches having collapsed.
An oval-shaped brick oven is built into the west side of the
fireplace in the north room of the western section. A square
brick addition 3.7 by 4.4 feet is built into the foundation of
the fireplace in the south room, middle section. The use of this
addition is unknown.
Neither Forman nor other excavators at Structure 17 at-
tempted to study or utilize data from the ceramic and glass
objects found in excavating. Even so, the Forman report in
the files of the National Park Service offers a general description
of "architectural fragments." Since Forman's study of the
structure was entirely from the architectural standpoint, his
observations of this material are valuable, even though they are
not comprehensive and provenience is rarely recorded.
Hardware
Hinges include 32 strap hinges, 1 pair of which has a slight
circular enlargement near the pintle end, possibly the result of
Dutch influence. Half a "cock's head" hinge was discovered in
the area outside the foundation, but possibly associated. Two
H-hinges with rounded ends were recorded.
Pintles were numerous, some fitting into the eyes of strap
hinges.
Casements: Two fragments of a wrought-iron lattice case-
49
ment with 4 pieces of saddle bars were located on the inside
of the north wall of the middle section. The stiles and rails
are 1 inch wide and 5/16 of an inch thick. Size of the casement
is I8I4 inches wide by 32% inches long (estimated). A frag-
ment of a corner of another casement was also found with stiles
or rails 1% inches wide and %6 of an inch thick. A possible
casement latch or fastener 8l/2 inches long was found, but not
in association with the above casement.
Locks and Keys were fragmentary. Eight locks were repre-
sented, some with works attached but very badly deteriorated.
One lock is heart-shaped. All are of iron. At least one 12 -inch
lock bolt was also found. Five keys are represented, all of iron.
Spikes and Nails were numerous. Eleven square spikes
range from 6 to 9V4 inches long. Large quantities of hand-
wrought nails are represented in the collection.
Footscrapers, Hooks, Staples, Hasps were also found.
Leaded Glass
Quantities of leaded glass were found in the form of broken
fragments of quarrels of diamond shape 3% inches on a side,
with an acute angle, top and bottom, of about 77°. Thickness
varies from %4 to %2 of an inch. The lead cames were noted
to come in three sizes from the area of the foundation, all
having held the panes in place by means of the typical "H"
section.
Slate
Slate was found in the foundation indicating some use of this
material in roofing. One blue slate measures 8*4 by 5% inches
and has 2 small nail holes close together at one end. Another
slate, broken, is dark green and measures 8% by 5 by 14 inches.
A nail hole l^-inch wide is 1*4 inches from the top center.
Some fragments of blue slate are thought by Forman to have
been used for paving or copings. These are 1/2 to xl/4 inches
thick.
Tiles
Found were pantiles and flat tiles, each type, especially the
pantiles, very often having oystershell mortar attached. Nibs
for locking with roof strips were noted. The color is reddish-
orange, and the bottom is typically sanded, the top, smooth.
Some tiles of the pantile type were light chocolate brown and
others light yellow and very porous. The flat tiles are also
sanded on one side. One flat tile, originally about 5 inches
wide, 1/2 inch thick, had 2 handpunched holes about 1 inch
from the edge and 2 14 inches apart.
Conclusions
It appears that archeological evidence does not finally prove
or disprove identity of Structure 17 as the First Statehouse. No
evidence was reported from the excavation of the middle house
(Foundation 2) of Structure 17 to date it before 1640 at the
earliest. Ceramic and other evidence points to occupation
during the second half of the 17th century and possibly after
1700. Clay-pipe evidence and wine-bottle shapes range pre-
ponderantly in the early 18th century, but may represent post-
occupation deposition in the cellar areas.
Foundation 1, the western house, contained artifacts more
uniformly early 18th century. This supports Forman's estimate
of its having been added on to the middle section. In his
official report to the National Park Service, Forman records that
"certain sections of the floor were taken up in order to investi-
gate what lay underneath. All the brick thus removed were
carefuly replaced." And again, "On March 30 the brick floor
was removed along the west wall of the middle section. A
layer of sand covering brick thrown in any fashion was found."
(Forman, 1935a.) Beneath the bricks of the paving of the
center section (Foundation 2), a nearly complete red-brown
locally molded pipe appears to be of 1650-75 date.
Late in 1955 the southern half of the center section of Struc-
ture 17 was excavated for partial display. At that time the
writer and Jelks took up some floor bricks to examine what lay
beneath. This test was located within 4 feet of the south wall.
A thin deposit of detritus did remain beneath the bricks and
above the undisturbed sand which formed the basal member.
The only specimens recovered here were as follows:
Five pipestems, 3 white, with holes %4 to %t of an inch, charac-
teristic of 1650-80. However, the size of stem holes in such a
small sample is by no means a reliable indicator of dating.
Two locally made, brown stem fragments, %4 and H&4 of an inch.
A piece of slag — evidence of a fire, but not necessarily the burning
of a house — possibly from a fireplace.
Pieces of slate, presumably English.
Fragments of plaster and mortar with calcined shell.
A lead calme or came for holding window glass.
A wrought-iron nail.
German, salt-glazed, blue-on-gray stoneware, ca. 1640-60.
An earthenware roof tile fragment (flat) with nail hole.
A nodule of English flint.
A small fragment of wine bottle, too small to determine shape.
These specimens suggest, but do not prove, that before the
brick flooring of the last-used cellar was laid down, a sand floor
existed on which some detritus accumulated. The dating of
this old deposit would have been the earliest possible at the
house site, assuming that the center and eastern sections were
almost contemporaneous, and older than the western, as Forman
believed. Because of the wine-bottle fragment, we have a
definite lower limit to the dating — namely about 1640. Thus,
we have to conclude that the original structure on this site was
erected after 1640.
The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography (Gregory,
1935) July 1935 quotes data on ownership. It gives the owners
of the western section of the actual First Statehouse group of
three houses as Richard Bennett from William Berkeley, March
30, 1655; Theoderic Bland, son-in-law of Bennett and Speaker
of the Assembly; Berkeley (again) ; Henry Randolph; Thomas
Ludwell and Thomas Stegg, before January 1, 1667. For the
middle and eastern sections: The colony from John Harvey,
April 7, 1641 ; Thomas Woodhouse, ordinary keeper, October
50
17, 1655; Anne Talbot, September 1, 1657; George Marable,
February 25, 1663; Henry Randolf of Henrico; Nathaniel
Bacon and the executors of Miles Carey (middle structure) ;
and Thomas Swann of Surrey (eastern structure), April 7, 1671.
Finally in the Ambler Papers is recorded in 1696 that George
Marable sold "one-half acres more or less on which a brick
house did formerly stand, where my said father George Marable
lived abutting on and joyneing Easterly to the brick howse and
land now in possession of John Jarrett, . . . Westerley on the
ruins of the brick howse and half acre of land belonging to
Phillip Ludwell Esqr southerlye on James' River and Northerlye
towards the howse and land belonging to John Harris Taylor."
From this it may be taken that by 1696 the middle and
western units of the First Statehouse were destroyed and that
the eastern unit alone still remained standing. We know from
the records of the National Park Service excavations of 1934-35
that in the fill of the middle unit, designated "Foundation 2"
at the time, some 1,808 pipe fragments were recovered, repre-
senting most of the pipe fragments from Structure 17. These
pipes were characteristically of the last quarter of the 17th
century and extend into the 18th at least 20 years.
In 1935 a search was made by National Park Service arch-
eologist H. Summerfield Day for remains of two houses (Day,
1935). One was a Mr. Fitchett's house and the other, a
15 -by- 15 -foot house. Both are located with precision on old
survey records in reference to the First Statehouse. The report
of these excavations, dated July 1, 1935, states:
No evidence of any structure was found in this area (Fitchett's house
area) although about 1,100 square feet were excavated down to the
undisturbed clay.
The very meager number of artifacts found in this area also indicated
that the section was not in any close proximity to a former habitation.
The failure to find either the 15 by 15 foot house or Fitchett's house
does not definitely prove that Structure 17 is not the Statehouse, but
indications are that it is not.
It may be added that area tests in the vicinity of Structure 17
in 1955-56 also failed to produce house residue in these loca-
tions. It must always be kept in mind, however, that structural
evidence from the first half of the 17th century, especially if
timber, was subject to almost total obliteration by subsequent
building and plowing.
Another note of caution in identifying Structure 17 as the
First Statehouse concerns the factor of erosion. The measured
distance from the First Statehouse to the river in 1667 was
67 feet. (Richmond Land Office Patent Book 6, p. 223,
"Ludwell, Thomas and Stegg, Thomas, Esquires".) In 1935,
just before construction of the riprap seawall along the southern
shore, the distance between Structure 17 and the river's edge
was measured and found to be 64 feet. There is considerable
evidence to support the hypothesis that the southern shore in
this area has eroded more than 3 feet in the last 300 years, in
which case it appears possible, at least, that any remains of the
original First Statehouse may have vanished long ago under the
waters of the James, leaving Structure 17 simply the ruins of a
comparable but unidentified structure.
We must not overlook that the First Statehouse was originally
presumed by Lyon G. Tyler and others to have consisted of
three 40-by-20-foot units arranged in a row, with the long axis
continuous. This description also fits the Ludwell-Third and
Fourth Statehouse group and the long house south of Pitch and
Tar Swamp Structure 115.
Finally, we must consider the original clue that prompted
Yonge to assume that the First Statehouse was several hundred
feet west of Structure 17. In the State Land Office Patent Book
2, pp. 10-11, is entered the following:
Now know ye that I the said Richard Kemp Esqre doe by these
presents according to ye Act of Assembly give and grant and Confirm
unto Mr. John White one Acre of Land lyeing in James Citty bounded
west upon the Church Yard East upon the Land [Philip Ludwell's]
apprtaining to the State house North towards the Land of mr Thomas
Hampton, and south upon James river the Length being twenty three
poles and the breadth seaven poles almost.
This would place the tract (the one including the middle
section only) upon which the First Statehouse stood, not less
than 380 feet downriver from the churchyard as it extended
riverward from its present walled enclosure, and perhaps 500
feet from the location of Structure 17.
Thus, historical evidence to establish the identity of Structure
17 is no more conclusive than the archeological evidence. But
there is always a chance that a clue some day will be recognized
which will settle the question conclusively.
STRUCTURE 18
Structure 18 lies in the north portion of Lot 89:113, and is
known only as a small brick foundation 18 by 14 feet, outside
measurement. It is oriented with the long axis approximately
east-west. No chimneys, cellar, or other features are recorded,
and nothing but the barest mention and an outline on the base
map can be derived from the scanty notes left by the foreman
who supervised the excavations in 1935. Nothing is known
historically of the identity of this structure. For the most part,
the artifacts recorded for the 100-foot lot can be assumed
to belong to the structure. This is true since only one building
was on this lot, and the artifacts are typical house refuse.
Ditch 15 and Well 3, within 20 feet, are undoubtedly asso-
ciated.
For Lot 89:113 the artifacts tell a meaningful story and cast
valuable light upon the structure and the associated Ditch 15
and Well 3. Refuse from these appears to belong to the period
of the rest of the lot and Structure 18. If there had been more
than these three features discovered in this lot, and if the lot
had not been completely excavated, we should be less certain
of the association of these artifacts with Structure 18. The
location of a small proportion of the artifacts is recorded, and
some depths are given. Although most depth notations read
from the surface to a given measurement, they are not very
significant.
51
PLATE 25 — Structure 19A from the Northeast
The vaulted room at the far (south) end probably represented the wine cellar of the tavern. The walls of Structure 19B which enclose and extend
south from 19A may be observed (Lot 98:101).
Tiles
Structure 18 was undoubtedly fitted with a roof of pantiles,
since approximately 200 fragments were recovered. About 20
fragments of flat roofing tiles were found, none of which appear
to have been used for leveling, since mortar does not adhere.
Stoneware
German stoneware, the majority blue-on-gray, and brown
mottled vessels are well represented. The latter included a
bartman and jug fragment with medallions, all of which suggest
the second half of the 17th century. There is a residue of
evidence representing English white salt-glazed Staffordshire,
which appears to indicate an occupation on this lot, or at least
a deposit of refuse from the 1760's.
Earthenware
Locally made lead-glazed ware, English lead-glazed, both light
and dark, and some coarse-tempered utility ware from Devon-
shire are all represented, definitely suggesting the second half
of the 17th century, probably mostly third quarter. Delftware
is predominantly English-Dutch blue-on-white, with some Eng-
lish Delft (1640-50) in plates, vessels, and porringers. There
are a few sherds of Spanish and Lisbon majolica, the latter
indicative of the first half of the century. Tobacco pipes are
represented in great numbers of fragments, and it is here that
another definitive dating range can be obtained. The imported
stems clearly indicate a dating from 1650 to 1680 and somewhat
beyond. The white bowls also are last half of the century, the
majority, last quarter. Brown pipes constitute a quarter of all
52
pipe specimens. These brown pipestems and brown bowl frag-
ments, presumably locally made, suggest by their shapes the last
half of the 17th century. Some 35 out of 300 white stems were
roulette-decorated, and 4 are initialled "LE," 1 "WG," and
i "Rr
Iron
Large numbers of wrought-iron nails, spikes, tacks, many
with mushroom heads, were found in this lot. Among the iron
objects are fragments of strap, plate, knife blades, small bars,
a key, and scythe blade. At a depth of 1 to 4 inches, directly
above Structure 18, were found a wrought-iron spearhead,
3-tined culinary fork, without handle, a flint lock pistol spring,
and a fragment of the lock from a flint lock pistol.
Brass
In the vicinity of Structure 18, tacks, a spoon fragment, and
unidentified object fragments were found, as well as two un-
identified objects of brass and lead.
Lead
A bale seal with undecipherable markings, a fragment of
came, and a shot were located in this lot; the seal came from
the vicinity of Structure 18.
Glass
Over 700 fragments of wine bottles from the lot are char-
acteristically 1660-75, and some are probably representative of
the end of the century. About 50 gin-bottle fragments were
found, showing proximity to the first half of the century. One
bottle seal with a fleur-de-lis decoration was recorded.
In addition, a pewter flagon fragment was recorded from the
lot and a silver token was found in the Structure 18 area.
In summary, the artifact evidence indicates that the house
was used in the last half of the 17th century, possibly somewhat
past 1700. It is probable that the English Staffordshire evidence
is intrusive and subsequent. The structure was undoubtedly a
small house, probably of brick, without a cellar. Associated
with the house were Well 3 and Ditch 15. The brick kiln,
Structure 127, 50 feet to the southwest, was earlier in the 17th
century, possibly first quarter.
STRUCTURES 19A AND 19B
Excavation of lots 99:101 and 98:101 was carried out be-
tween December 1934 and August 1936 under the guidance of
various archeologists, architects, and field foremen with labor
supplied by the Civilian Conservation Corps. In that excava-
tion, Structures 19A, 19B, the associated Structure 45, and 2
wells, all occur in close relationship. The work was not uni-
formly integrated, and the notes and HABS drawings were
never completed. The following data are presented on the
basis of extant observations and drawings, plus a complete
review and analysis of the photographs and artifacts (except
those of metal) by the writer.
Structure 19A is the nuclear house with complete cellar and
the only intact foundation in the group. It measures 43 feet
3 inches by 15 feet 10 inches to 16 feet 6 inches, outside dimen-
sions. The house is oriented with long axis approximately on
magnetic north-south.
Structure 19B is a subsequent building which envelops 19A
cellar portion completely beneath its north half. It has no cellar
beneath the south half. The walls are not completely preserved
north of the central partition, but the indicated length of the
complete structure, ouside measurement, is 88 feet 9 inches
north-south and 23 feet 2 inches east-west. When Structure
19B was erected, the south room of Structure 19A cellar was
vaulted over. Thus, a use for the old foundation hole for a
wine cellar is indicated, and artifact evidence also supports the
assumption that the structure then served as a tavern.
Structure 45, oriented identically with 19B, with respective
north walls approximately in line, lies 10 feet 6 inches east of
the larger building, and is clearly a subsidiary structure, pre-
sumably a kitchen. Structure 45 is represented by a brickwork
foundation including a large fireplace and an adjoining oven.
No structural evidence survived for the remainder of the build-
ing except postholes 8 to 10 feet apart. These indicate a house
approximately 28 feet long north-south and 18 feet wide, with-
out cellar. There is an irregular pit 2 feet 6 inches below the
top of the undisturbed clay, lying 10 feet south of Structure 45.
This pit has possible significance as an associated refuse deposit.
Well 11 lies 22 feet west of Structure 19B, and Well 4 lies
15 feet north of the midpoint between the north walls of
Structure 19B and Structure 45. Well 11 was possibly wood-
cased, but no structural evidence remained except the wooden
barrel at the bottom. Well 4 was brick-lined.
Four ditches are associated with these structures in Lot 99:101.
Ditch 20 is probably subsequent to Structure 19B and Ditch 18
is probably subsequent to Structure 19A and 45. Ditch 17 does
not apparently intrude on structures. Artifact evidence of the
ages of these ditches will be discussed later.
Structure 19 A
The north room of this 2 -room structure has 4 walls standing,
in English bond, with clear indication of destruction above
ground level and subsequent rebuilding. The mortar is com-
posed of sand and oyster shell throughout. However that of
the original courses is white and superior in quality to that of
the rebuilt courses which is yellow and soft. At the north end
of this room is a dividing wall extending south at right angles
5 feet 3 inches from the north wall. On the left of this divider
is a flight of steps consisting of 7 risers of brick approximately
7I/2 inches high, topped with wood, indicated by nosings at the
sides of the steps. The north wall is continuous behind this
stairway. On the left a fireplace foundation is indicated. A
remnant of brick paving lies within the fireplace base, but the
remainder of the cellar, as well as the vault to the south, had
53
PLATE 26 — Structure 19 A — Conjectural Drawing
A conception of Structure 19A in its original aspect before development of the additional 19B to the south. Behind (east) is Structure 45,
assumed to be a kitchen. Actually, Structure 19A is the cellar and vault beneath and enclosed by Structure 19B. Although the first may have been an
independent structure once, the ensemble of Structure 19, undoubtedly a tavern, and Structure 45, the kitchen, must go together. Structure 19, including
A and B, was approximately 90 feet long — far longer than the house in this view, even including the frame lean-to at the south end. Interpretation by
Sidney E. King. Research by A. Lawrence Kocher.
a dirt floor. The footings of the north wall are up to 6 inches
deeper than those of the other walls of the room, and spread
out wider at the bottom.
In all 4 walls of the north room soldier courses were
observed, sometimes in 1, sometimes in 2 courses. This is to
say that bricks were laid dry on edge in the sand above which
the bonded bricks were laid with mortar. Above the soldier
course appear 2 projecting courses. The bricks of the original
basal wall members average 8y8 by 4l/2 by 2l/2 inches. Those
added to the original wall average slightly shorter and nearly
!/2 inch thinner. All bricks range from salmon color (soft)
through the reds to purple (very hard), and some headers are
glazed. The bricks, like those of 19B and Structure 45 are
undoubtedly locally molded and fired. The bricks of 19B
average I/4 inch thicker and longer than those of the old and
added masonry of 19 A and of Structure 45.
The ends of the partition wall between the north and south
rooms were bonded to the west and east walls of Structure 19 A,
and a central door opening 4 feet 10 inches wide was placed
above 3 basal footing courses. A wooden sill 8 inches wide
lay on the brick footing. The sill was recessed into the wall,
17 inches on the east side of the opening and 13 inches on the
west side. The threshold was thus 11 inches above the floor
line. (Similiar examples of door framing were found in
Bacon's Castle, Isle of Wight County, built in 1655, and Sweet
Hall, New Kent County, built in 1703.) Originally, this par-
tition wall was 1 header brick (8% inches) thick with the
footing (1 soldier course) projecting south from the wall 4 to
54
6 inches. Some time later, probably when the vault of the
south room was added, an additional 4 inches were added to
the south side of the wall in common bond. This made the
wall 14 to 15 inches thick. The addition was not bonded to
either east or west wall. To hold this 4-inch addition, 2 more
courses were laid on the soldier course and projected out from
the original wall 7 to 9 inches. Bricks forming the junction
with the vault (not a true arc) were bonded to the vault only
by mortar, pieces of flat roofing tile, and broken pieces of brick
used to chink in between the wall top and vault.
The remarkable feature of the south room of Structure 19A
is the unplastered brick vaulting which was preserved from the
spring line for a distance of 2 to 3 feet. The spring line itself
was approximately 2 feet 6 inches above the sand-and-clay floor.
The east and west walls below the spring line were of English
bond, and the vaulting is of English bond; however, the wall
proper above the spring line was somewhat irregular in bond.
It is noteworthy that the vault starts 1 to ll/2 inches back from
the vertical surface of the lateral walls. Also at the spring line
of each of these walls were 4 recesses averaging 5 by 7 inches
and 4 to 6 inches deep, spaced evenly. These recesses may
have held wood members which held the centering for the vault.
If so, they explain the setback of the vault face which would
represent the false work covering of iy2-inch boards on which
the brick vault was built. Projecting the vault curve indicates
a maximum room height of 6 feet at the center.
Structure 19B
This structure is represented by intermittent remains of walls
averaging 18 inches wide set just above the undisturbed clay,
at the bottom of the humus zone. The top of the maximum of
4 preserved courses lay just below the 1934 plow line, or 6
inches below the surface. The portion of Structure 19B which
envelopes and overlies the walls and cellar of Structure 19A
probably contained 2 rooms on the first floor. A chute, indi-
cated by an exterior sloping course of flat-laid bricks 3 feet
wide, evidently gave access through the east cellar wall beneath
the north room. This provided access for heavy barrels or
chests to be stored in the vault and cellar.
The inside measurements of the indicated 2 rooms of the
southern half of Structure 19B are 40 feet 5^2 inches by 20
feet % inches. The type footings used for Structure 19A were
not used for Structure 19B. The first course was laid directly
on the clay in English bond with a good grade of oyster-shell
lime mortar. The north partition wall is 14% inches wide,
bonded into the west wall and built from the same sort of
bricks as the east and west walls. These bricks average 2l/2 by
4%6 by 9Vs inches and range in color and hardness from
salmon (soft) to purple (very hard). Thus the bricks of 19B
were slightly thicker and longer than the bricks of Structure 45
as well as those of the old and added masonry of 19A.
Between the two southern rooms of Structure 19B, a clearly-
indicated double fireplace foundation extended in a T-shape
from the east wall providing nearly identical fireplaces. Their
inside measurements were 8 feet 3 inches wide and a front-to-
back depth of 3 feet 6 inches.
Artifacts from Structures 19 A and 19B (General)
As previously stated, Structure 19A was destroyed and its
cellar portion subsequently incorporated as a cellar for the
larger and longer Structure 19B, with the addition of a vault.
Aside from this obvious inference, it is not probable that much
light can be cast upon the relative datings of these two struc-
tures from the artifacts. When Structure 19B was destroyed by
fire, the artifact evidence within and around its location would
most likely reflect the current or recent usages and artifacts
associated with the late period of occupancy. The excavators
reported no definitive objects sealed in the earth beneath the
dirt floor surface of Structure 19 A or beneath the steps at its
northwest corner.
Ceramic
Brick. The building bricks, previously described, indicate
no essential difference between the bricks of Structure 19 A and
B; all are locally made in the latter half of the 1600's and
range in hardness and color according to their position in the
kiln. The numerous fragments of pantiles indicate a tile roof.
The flat roofing tiles, few in number, were used mainly for
leveling masonry courses.
Salt -glazed Stoneware. Both German brown-mottled and
blue-on-gray are present in fair quantity, predominantly late
17th century, but a fair proportion — about a quarter of each —
are 18th century. A graybeard jug fragment is a definite 17th-
century item which could be third quarter. There is a blue-on-
gray jar. A single sherd of Staffordshire dates after 1750. As
with all other stoneware and earthenware items — except the
blue-on-gray jar, which was in Structure 19A fill — these items
are from Lot 99:101 at large. The excavators did not leave a
definite record of pottery occurrence except by the lot area.
Earthenware is well represented in Lot 99:101. It also
indicates the latter part of the 17th century with some 18th.
Most common types are the locally made, lead-glazed type, and
English-Dutch delftware. There is a large number of English,
lead-glazed, light utilityware sherds, but a minor number of the
dark, lead-glazed, English ware. Coarse-tempered, Devonshire
utilityware is present in small proportion, as are marbled slip-
ware, creamware (after 1750), and a few sherds of English
sgraffito and Italian sgraffito. White English delft is present.
Earthenware here represents the two structures 19B and 45 prin-
cipally and shows that occupation may have extended beyond
the 17th century.
The best earthenware criterion is, of course, the tobacco-pipe
collection, and fortunately, the provenience of most of these
specimens was kept specifically. Here the significant observa-
tion, to begin with, is the sheer number of pipes from the house
area. There are over 500 white stem fragments alone, many
brown stems, and white and brown bowls. This pipe evidence,
the good representation of wine-bottle fragments, the building
55
of a vault for the Structure 19B cellar, all plainly testify to the
logic of assuming that the structure was a tavern.
Tobacco pipe evidence shows conclusively that Structure 19B,
speaking of the entire structure, including the cellar in its final
use, was in use in the last quarter of the 17th century.
Indications of the 18th century artifacts suggest two possi-
bilities, namely: that use of the building did indeed reach well
into the 18th century, or that various pieces of refuse were
deposited in the ruined foundation area standing open in the
18th century. The 18th-century refuse may have been deposited
from houses in the vicinity, notably to the south toward the
James River. These are known to have been standing in 1781.
(See Figure 3.)
Tobacco pipe evidence is also significant in pointing out the
relationship of Structure 19B and other related features: Struc-
ture 45, the presumed kitchen, appears somewhat closer to the
third quarter of the 17th century, with use into the last quarter.
This suggests that it may have been destroyed before the main
house was destroyed. Well 11 pipe evidence shows that the
refuse lost deep in the well is definitely third quarter 17th
century, with no 18th-century refuse included at all. This
simple well with barrel at the bottom was undoubtedly con-
structed, used, and abandoned during the first period of Struc-
ture 19A occupation, and possibly after Structure 19B was built.
More probably it served only 19 A. Well 4, on the other hand,
was brick-lined and was in use certainly in the last quarter of
the 17th century, probably not before.
Glass
Glass evidence is particularly significant for an indication of
the character of Structure 19B. At least 560 pieces of wine
bottles from in and around this building were collected. All
appear to be clearly last quarter 17th century except 20 pieces
from the third quarter. At least two pieces of wine bottle
from the fill of 19A are definitely 18th century. Melted wine
bottle fragments were amid the debris of charred wood and
other fire evidence on Structure 19 A. It is significant that only
two fragments of Dutch gin bottles were found for the entire
lot area, pointing to the probability that this ground was not
in use for habitation during the first half of the 17th century.
Window quarrel fragments numbering over 60 in the fill of
19 A, together with casement fragments, offer conclusive evi-
dence of the fitting of windows in Structure 19B in its final
phase. Two goblet fragments were found outside of Structure
19B as was one "HG" (Henry Gawler?) bottle seal. (Henry
Gawler was known to have kept an ordinary in 1684 near
the site of Structure 17, near the river bank.) One "GL" seal
was found in the fill of Structure 19 A cellar.
Wrought Iron
Wrought iron found in the Structure 19A cellar fill and in
and around the Structure 19B foundations consisted, for the
most part, of nails, spikes, pintles, hinges, hasps, staples, keys,
locks, latches, bolts, escutcheon plates, drawer or door pulls,
and parts of a casement window frame.
Nails and Spikes were found in quantity, varying in length
from i/2 to 8 inches. However, such evidence is insufficient to
indicate that Structure 19B was constructed of wood. Interior
finish casings, floors, lath and moldings, hinges, hasps, and
other wrought-iron fixtures were held in place with wrought-
iron nails which varied in size according to their function.
(Lath evidence comes from lath-marked plaster from Well 4,
near Structure 19A.) Two large-headed spikes were found at
the threshold of a probable door in the south end of the east
wall of Structure 19B which may have been used on the portal
itself. One of the spikes, 5^4 inches long, is bent at a point
2 inches from the head, indicating the thickness of the door.
Strap Hinges were of 2 types: (1) pintle, hinged at the
end on a pintle, and (2) a double strap, hinged at the center.
Of the pintle hinges there were 4 sizes, 3 of which had rounded,
enlarged ends showing, perhaps, a Dutch influence. The largest
pair (Cat. No. 1651) was found inside Structure 19 A near a
probable door location in the central part of the west wall. It
can be assumed readily that it belonged to an entrance door.
One of these hinges is 30 inches long — 3 inches longer than
the other. Both are made from %-inch iron, 2^8 inches wide,
and taper in thickness to !/8 *ncn at tne rounded ends. The
door on which the pair of hinges fitted was, inferentially, about
36 inches wide and 2 inches thick.
Another strap hinge (Cat. No. 1652) found close to this
same portal and the first pair, is 20 1/2 inches long and V/g
inches wide at the pintle end. It was wrought from a strap
3^6 of an inch thick. This hinge was essentially Dutch in
character and probably was used on a door or shutter. The
other strap hinges found were similar to this type but smaller,
presumably used on small doors elsewhere in the house. Center-
hinged straps were probably used on chests or on cupboard
doors.
An unusual pair of wrought-iron ornamental H hingts with
chamfered, foliated ends (Cat. No. 1653) was found in the
cellar debris at the floor level of a burned area near the door-
way between the vault and north room of Structure 19A. The
hinges, measuring 8% by 3% inches, are a loose-joint type
which made it possible to take the door down without detaching
the hinges. This pair was large enough to have been used on
a door at this passageway, or for a door in the floor or floors
above.
Casements. All surviving evidence of window fittings from
17th-century Jamestown indicates the use of diamond-shaped
quarrels and lead cames in wrought-iron casements. J. E.
Chandler in his book The Colonial House states that the glass
sheets were probably imported and cut to the size needed and
the lead cames were heavier (almost an inch wide) in the
early examples (Chandler, 1916, pp. 126-127). The James-
town examples of cames do not indicate clearly a wide type.
Examples here at Structure 19 average from 1/4 to y8 inch
wide and vary in thickness from ]/g to %6 inch according to
56
the place used in the window. Casements at Jamestown were
small, judging from the only complete example (Cat. No. 604)
which was found in Structure 17. This casement is 13V2 by
25 inches, outside measurements. It was a hinged pintle type
with saddle bars and a fancy latch. (See Figure 9.)
Part of a casement (Cat. No. 1703) was found in the burned
area above the cellar floor in front of the fireplace, in the
northwest corner of Structure 19A. This casement has a
slightly larger frame section than the one from Structure 17.
The window was probably slightly larger than 13 by 25 inches.
Latches, Locks, Keys, Staples, and Pulls are repre-
sented here, directly or indirectly. The locks are absent but are
represented by three different types of keys with staples indi-
cating the thickness of the wood members to which they were
attached. It is worth noting in this connection that we have
traces here and elsewhere at Jamestown of the 17th-century
wrought-iron locks classified by Joseph Moxon (Moxon, 1703) :
Street-door locks, called stock locks (made for imbedding in a
wooden door, requiring a key with a collar smaller than the key-
hole in the door)
Chamber-door locks, called spring locks (a cased lock, which re-
quired a key with a collar to keep it from penetrating the key-
hole too far beyond the metal plate)
Cupboard locks
Chest locks, trunk locks, and padlocks
Other Metal Objects
Associated with Structure 19A fill are other metal objects
including a brass spoon bowl, a brass thimble, a brass and
silver button, a copper pot lid, lead came fragments, and two
fragments of a unique lead tobacco pipe (marking one unhappy
experiment which we know was not again repeated at Jamestown
and we hope never again in America!). Also included are a
pewter spoon handle of the pied-de-biche type characteristic of
the latter half of the 17th century, and a silver spoon bowl.
Stone
A rarity at Jamestown, stone is represented only by observed
bits of English slate and an Indian arrowhead (from Structure
19A fill — as evidence that one object need not date a house).
Historical Note on Structure 19
(Data by Charles S. Marshall, former historian, Colonial
National Historical Park)
There are 3 possible claims of title which may be applied to the area
on which this structure is located. The simplest in all respects is that
of John White. . . . White took out a patent for an area . . . which
was bounded on the river and located in the general vicinity of Struc-
ture 19. It is not stated in the patent whether the length or breadth is
along the river. For the purpose of argument we may assume that the
breadth is along the river. Although the shoreline is uncertain we may
take the outermost possible location for the shoreline and locate the
White tract from here. In this case the northern side of the White
tract bisects the building. Thus we may see that when all doubts are
resolved in favor of White owning the land we find that it is still a
physical impossibility for the building to be inside the lot, to say noth-
ing of the well which is northeast of the building.
The second possibility is that the building may have been included in
the land which belonged to Richard Lawrence and later to "President"
Nathaniel Bacon. There is no adequate description available of Law-
rence's land. We know that he had land and a very pretentious house in
the town, which was burned during Bacon's Rebellion. As a result of
his participation in the rebellion Lawrence forfeited his land. (State
Land Office Patents VII, 300.) In 1683 Nathaniel Bacon, "the Elder,"
some times known as "President," patented 3% acres which was part of
the land formerly owned by Lawrence. (State Land Office, Patents VII,
300. ) This land may be plotted with reasonable accuracy. A survey in
Ambler Papers . . . shows a road which was the western limit of Robert
Beverly. See Ambler Papers #51. Beverly's eastern line was the
western limit of Bacon tract. The entire question here hinges on the
location of the northwest corner of the Beverly tract. This point is
variable within certain limits. If, for trial purposes, we assume the
easternmost possibility and plot the 2 tracts accordingly we find that
Structure 19 is east of Bacon's eastern limit. This still leaves, however,
the possibility that Lawrence owned a larger tract which may have ex-
tended further east and consequently included Structure 19. This struc-
ture may easily be the building mentioned as having been burned in the
Rebellion.
There is still left the latter building to be identified. No positive
identification is possible but one possibility may be raised. The patent
to William Sherwood in 1694 mentions the fact that Thomas Wood-
house owned land west of Sherwood (State Land Office Patents VIII,
384). There is only a mention but it raises possibilities. It is known
from other sources that Woodhouse owned and operated an inn in
which government business was transacted from time to time.
Since no other building as large as Structure 19 has been
located in this vicinity, we may seriously consider this structure
the Woodhouse Inn.
STRUCTURE 21
By its aspect, as presently preserved, the foundation evidence
of Structure 21 (Lot 94:103) indicates that it could have been
a modest frame cottage with a brick foundation. It had a paved
floor, a fireplace with an adjoining oven, glazed windows (no
cames discovered), and a tile roof. It did not have a cellar.
Although the artifacts hardly indicate anything but domiciliary
purpose, the puzzling fact remains that brick wall footings were
no longer clearly defined at the time of excavation. If side wall
footings did originally exist, they may have been taken up for
salvage after the abandonment of the house.
Indeed, the large size of the fireplace (7 feet 11 inches wide,
3 feet 5V2 inches deep, inside measurement) would seem dis-
proportionate for a very small cottage. The curving back wall
remnant floored with brick which partly adjoins the fireplace
at the north would suggest an oven of some type — possibly for
baking or brewing. Six courses of the fireplace and four of
the curved "oven" structure were recorded; both were in English
bond. The curving wall of the problematical oven fragment
was 8 1/2 inches or a single-header-brick thick, while the straight
side was only the width of a half brick (approximately 4
inches). Two sizes of brick are described by the excavators
of 1935: 9 by 4l/2 by 2% and 8y2 by 4 by 2]/4, both applicable
to Structure 21.
The nature and purpose of the rectangular brick addition
57
'■"V
2? • „« tv
PLATE 27 — Structure 21 — Conjectural Drawing
Structure 21 (Lot 94:103) was probably a small frame house on a brick foundation with a large fireplace and an adjacent oven at the west end.
The brick walk to the north was traceable. This house dates probably in the first half of the 17th century. Interpretation by Sidney E. King, research
by J. Paul Hudson and A. Lawrence Kocher.
attached to the northwest wall of the fireplace is unknown.
This foundation remnant may represent a small drying room
designed to utilize the heat of the fireplace masonry. Or it
may have been a shed for tools or some other purpose that can
only be guessed. The walls of this addition extend 5 feet from
the main wall with an interior width of 3 feet 4 inches.
The brick paving of the floor and the structure's elevation
(8 feet above mean low tide — original ground level perhaps
slightly higher) suggests no more than a slightly depressed
floor to the structure, certainly never a true cellar. This flooring
extends in a fairly regular pattern of flat-laid bricks in the
central portion of the structure. It takes on variant patterns
of flat-laid brick in the hearth of the main fireplace (where it
is raised 1 inch) and to the north and south of the chimney
walls. At a distance of 16 feet 3 inches east of the backwall
of the fireplace, the brick floor pattern, oriented roughly east-
west, is broken by a single line of brick running roughly north-
south. This facilitated drainage and was a practice familiar in
Jamestown brick flooring (note Structure 123).
A walkway of flat-laid brick (Structure 20) extends from
the northern side of Structure 21 roughly parallel to it, and
curves gently northward after proceeding approximately 20 feet
beyond the northwest corner of the fireplace. The walkway and
Structure 21 floor are nearly the same elevation, the walkway
rising slightly as it extends away from the house.
A lime kiln (Structure 46) in excellent preservation was
found 15 feet west of Structure 21 suggesting a possible relation-
ship. A second lime kiln (Structure 47) was also found in
1935 along the shoreline 120 feet upriver (NW) from Struc-
ture 21.
Some time after abandonment of Structure 21, a ditch, 1 foot
6 inches wide and 2 feet 1 inch deep, was dug through the
center of the floor from northeast to southwest. In this ditch
a brick drain was laid. The drain consisted of a line of headers
58
/
; ' >'•<" .
•
Ir— -^ -,.r
/ >
■ *■,"•&■*
/
i
/
/
J
ryj }
X1
v
PLATE 28 — Structure 21 — Dete*'/ of Fireplace
Structure 21 showing a detailed view of the fireplace from the east. The brick floor of this structure was relatively superficial, suggesting that
here may have been an example of a ground floor paved with brick, rather than the usual cellar pavement.
at the bottom, stringers at either side, overlapping the basal
bricks slightly, and another line of headers at the top. This
drain, designated Structure 39, served a purpose which has not
been fully determined at this writing.
Artifacts
One extremely important object found between 1 and 2 feet
below the surface in the area of Structure 21 was the noted
Copeland spoon (Cat. No. 9 — old series) manufactured at
Chuckatuck and dated 1675. This dated spoon points clearly
to the post- 167 5 dating of pipestems with holes predominantly
%4 inch in diameter, as well as pipes bearing the initials "LE."
These tobacco pipes as well as other evidence indicate late
17th century occupancy; yet in this regard it is interesting to
note that the pipestem evidence as estimated by Harrington's
method ranges in the 1650-80 bracket while the evidence of
4 pipes from the fill behind the hearth and 4 from the second
foot below the surface uniformly suggest the years from 1675
into the first quarter of the 18th century. The pipestems are
conspicuous for the presence of 7 "LE" and 1 "IF" initials.
Taken as a time marker, the Copeland spoon also provides
correlated dating evidence of last quarter 17th-century use of
flat roofing tile; local lead-glazed and English lead-glaaed dark
and light earthenware; as well as blue-on-white English-Dutch
delftware, plus a bit of Lisbon majolica.
The remainder of the artifacts are not especially distinctive
or indicative of purpose. They include a small number of
local and English earthenware fragments, a few wine bottle
and fewer gin bottle fragments. Outside Structure 21, but in
the vicinity, many artifacts were recovered (see Artifact Table
13, Appepdix F), the most noteworthy being the following
bottle seals: "IR," "FN," "GL," and 2 "HG."
59
A '
PLATE 29 — Structure 20— Curving Brick Walk
Structure 20 — a curving walk of brick extending westward from the north door of Structure 21 house. This walk is approximately the same
level as the brick flooring of the house (Lot 94:103).
It may or may not be significant that some 20 feet to the east
of Structure 21 a trade token was found at a depth of 2 feet
4 inches, dated 1656, plus the word "PORCHMOUTH," and
the letters S'jH' The other side has the name "HENRY
IENNER" and a star. A few feet closer to the structure and
in the same direction, a coin of George III dated 1773 was
found at elevation 3.4 feet. In August 1935 a power shovel
working on the seawall just riverward of Structure 21 had
deposited earth on the approximate location of the house.
The excavators removing this loose earth (originally taken
from the shoreline) found in it a coin stamped "CHARLES II"
and dated 1672.
In all, Structure 21 evidence demonstrates the presence of
small houses, probably of wood on brick floorings and with
brick chimneys. These could have served either domestic or
industrial purposes, or both.
STRUCTURE 22
One of the few clearly defined frame houses with a brick
chimney at Jamestown is Structure 22 in Lot 97:101. Although
this house evidence was never fully recorded, and provenience
of artifacts is missing, an adequate lot plan was made at the
time of the original excavation in 1934. At least sufficient
data are available to show that the sills originally were set on
posts, apparently wood, which were set in dug holes spaced
approximately 22 feet east-west and 19 feet north-south. In
parallel lines, 4 of these posts supported the north side and 4
supported the south side of the house. They were respectively
spaced a little less than 8 feet apart. The brick fireplace
extended beyond the east house wall line approximately 4 feet.
The fireplace was constructed of some whole bricks and a
majority of brick halves and larger fragments in a basic English
bond. The width overall was a little over 9 feet (originally
60
PLATE 30 — Structure 21 Overlooking the James River
closer to 10 feet). The more intact south wing of the fireplace
was 4 feet 10 inches overall, east to west. The inside measure-
ments were 6 feet 1 inch wide and 3 feet 5 inches deep, front
to back. There was no brick flooring to either fireplace or
house. Bricks from the fireplace range in color from salmon
(soft) to red (medium hard) and from 9 by 4y4 by 2l/2 to
81/2 by 4 by 2]/4 inches.
Structure 22 was situated in the northwest corner of a partial
rectangle formed by Ditch 27 to the east, Ditch 28 to the west,
and Ditch 29 to the north. The plan of Lot 97:101 does not
conclusively demonstrate that Structure 22 was built after
Ditches 28 and 29 were abandoned (therefore encroaching
slightly upon them) or, alternatively, that the ditches were
dug after the house was destroyed. One postmold in the north
side of Structure 22 is definitely shown superimposed a few
inches into the fill of Ditch 29, but the profile drawing of
ditch and postmold is inconclusive as to which intrudes on the
other. The remaining 2 postholes of the north side of the
structure are shown exactly coinciding at their south borders
with the north edge of Ditch 29. However, the excavators
did not record any trace of a posthole at the northwest corner
of the house which would have coincided with the juncture of
Ditch 28 and Ditch 29. This may be explained by the notation
"recent fill," indicating disturbance which may have destroyed
posthole evidence at this crucial place. But there is no sign
that a posthole was found in the fill of Ditch 28 where it
coincides with part of the west wall of Structure 22. This
absence would leave us to assume that a floor sill stretched
18 feet from corner post to corner post at the west end of the
house — not a likely manner of building.
Unfortunately, it is not possible at this time — if ever — to
extract from available notes the complete artifact content of the
fill of Ditches 28 and 29. Notations on the lot plan designate
only a wrought-iron hoe found in Ditch 29, and in Ditch 28,
some delftware, 2 pieces of iron, a broken pipestem, "bones"
(presumably animal), and brickbats. These ditch artifacts
cannot be extracted from the collection, although from the lot
at large are a number of wrought-iron nails, flat roofing tiles,
61
2 pantiles, and some Dutch brick. However, it has been
feasible to identify a collection of pipes from Ditch 28, Ditch
29, and Lot 97:101 which are worth noting:
Ditch 28 pipes: White stems are 3 — %4 of an inch; 9 — %4 ;
8 — %4, dating indicated first half 17th century. White bowls
show 1 definite first quarter.
Ditch 29 pipes: White stems are 1— %4 ; 14 — 7/64 ; 3—
%4, dating indicated 1650-80. White bowls show 3 third
quarter, 3 fourth quarter.
The average for Lot 97:101 (old lot 47) in the non-feature
area is as follows: White stems, 1650-80; white bowls, 2 first
quarter, 1 fourth quarter.
Thus, we may conclude that if Structure 22 intruded upon
Ditch 29, it could be later than the third quarter of the 17th
century. On the other hand, if Structure 22 has been partly
obliterated by Ditch 28, it could be first quarter of the 17th
century. There were no specimens in the collection positively
associated with Structure 22 itself. It would appear from the
character of the house design, plus the best circumstantial evi-
dence of associated artifacts and features, that the house is
relatively early 17th century.
STRUCTURE 23
Most of Lot 98:100 (old Lot 34) in which Structures 23,
49, and 55 lay, was inadequately excavated in 1934. By the
time the excavations were recorded in 1936, two parts of this
lot had been erased of features by roadbuilding, parking lot,
and landscaping. Structure 23 may or may not represent a
brick foundation trace. It was observed and recorded merely
as a shallow ditch with a discernible depth of from 2 to 7
inches. The loose brick lying in this ditch was interpreted in
the 1936 record as representing remains of a definite structure.
The depth of the ditch in 1936 was only 0.7 foot below the
surface, although previous disturbances may have rendered this
measurement meaningless. From the vantage point of 1957,
having observed the tendency for ditches to have brick debris
in them (Ditches 66 and 30), the writer is willing to consider
the evidence still tentative. This is based on the writer's ob-
servation of a photograph of the line of brick debris and the
proximity of other small ditches — Ditches 18, 19, 20, and 21
to the north and east. Also a ditch trace in the lot to the north
of Structure 23 appears continuous with it.
The presumed wall trace of Structure 23 extends 35 feet 4
inches north-south and averages 1 foot 2 inches wide and 2
feet 7 inches deep. The wall appeared to turn west at the
south end for a traceable distance of 3 feet, according to the
plan record. The field record, however, suggested that the
trace proceeded several feet farther where it was cut by a new
road. Inside of this angle, a quantity of fragmentary material,
such as glass, pottery, and nails, was recorded as being found.
Unfortunately, this material cannot be identified now in the
collection, except in part and by lot. Brick evidence from the
presumed structure is described as predominantly brown with
some purple (hardest) and some soft, salmon-colored pieces.
The one complete brick measured 9 by 4I/4 by 23/8 inches. In
all, 330 fragmentary bricks were recorded.
Artifacts
While no artifacts were recorded in specific association with
Structures 23, 49, or 55 within Lot 98:100, there is considerable
tobacco-pipe and glass evidence from this lot which must serve
as the only available clue to age. This evidence, however, is
significant, inasmuch as it appears to be remarkably homogene-
ous as to dating, and, if it is a true sample, would pertain to
all three structures inferentially.
Out of 126 pipe fragments, 24 are locally made, brown, with
stem apertures measuring %4 and %4 of an inch. The white
stem fragments range as follows: 5 — %4, 21 — %4, 45 — %4,
and 26 — %4. The initials "LE" and "WE" are represented,
with one each. This sampling definitely places the pipestem
evidence in last half of the 17th century, with the fourth
quarter and a little beyond, probably. The five white bowls
found are all in the last quarter, possibly even past the century.
Glass evidence is represented by two full trays of wine bottle
glass (no gin bottles), uniformly representative of the end of
the 17th century.
The only other evidence available in the collection from this
lot is a drawer of roofing tiles which are both pantiles and flat
tiles, the pantiles predominating by 4 to 1.
Thus, it can be concluded that Structures 23, 49, and 55 all
represent the end of the 17th century, or possibly a little
beyond, there being no evidence within the lot to indicate an
earlier dating for any artifacts.
STRUCTURE 24
The first building to be encountered (as a result of posthole
tests) in the "New Towne" area in the autumn of 1934 was
never excavated completely. In 1955, when the final drive to
complete area testing was under way, a trench was dug within
a few feet of this structure. Refuse Pit 5, containing much
early 17th-century artifact evidence was located 15 feet to the
east. Since it was felt that no feature could be reinvestigated
before the current explorations were completed, Structure 24
was never relocated and fully excavated.
A detailed review of exploration data of the 1930's, together
with additional information gathered in 1955, shows that
Structure 24 was an early 17th-century feature of considerable
significance. Well 20, situated 25 feet to the north and
Refuse Pit 5, closer to the east, are both related to this structure.
Fortunately, data are sufficient to establish the fact that a
very early occupation occurred here, that Structure 24 is prob-
ably a trace of a first-quarter brick house, that Well 20 is
related to it, and that Refuse Pit 5 .was its refuse depository.
62
PLATE 31 — Structure 26 Viewed toward the Southeast
Structure 26 looking southeast over Lot 95:100. This structure is sometimes taken as evidence that no erosion has occurred at the south shore
below Church Point because the south wall footing is lower than the north wall footing, being almost at high tide level at the time of the excavation
( 1934-35). However, the soil profiles of this excavation indicate that there was a definite slope riverward from some distance north of the present shore,
and that much fill was added at the time the two wharfs were placed here at the end of the 19th century. The author believes, however, that Structure
26 was built on the scarp of an erosional depression leading to the 17th-century shore an unknown distance away.
Artifacts
The single, most significant object which definitely identifies
Structure 24 with the early 17th century is entry No. 1 in the
old catalog: A gin bottle restored from fragments found in
testing the foundation. This bottle is of the exact shape and
nearly the same dimensions as the complete and undamaged gin
bottle recovered 25 feet to the north from the fill of Well 20.
Since gin bottles were blown in molds, so that individual
differences appear only at the pontil end and at the neck, it is
not difficult to recognize bottles blown in the same or a similar
mold. These two bottles are obviously of a uniform date and
origin. This specimen and the balance of artifacts in Well 20
clearly establish both structure and well as belonging to the
period 1620-50.
A collection of 54 utility vessel sherds almost entirely repre-
sents lead-glazed earthenware, probably of local manufacture.
There is a single sherd of North Devon coarse-tempered, lead-
glazed earthenware.
Five sherds of English delftware are known to have come
from the Structure 24 tests, three of which are apparently early
17th century. The remaining two, a plain white Lambeth delft
type, could also be mid-century or earlier.
STRUCTURES 26, 27, AND 28
Structure 26
The brick and stone foundation of this rectangular building
runs roughly east and west through Lots 96:99, 95:99, and
95. TOO. Structure 26 lay on the river bank, only a little over
1 foot above mean low tide when excavated in 1935. The
foundation, measuring 52 by 16 feet, lay with its long sides
63
PLATE 32 — Structure 26 During Excavating
Excavated foundation shows the problematical stepped-down base course, indicating that the structure was built on an original slope. The lower
footing is almost at the high tide line. Photographs made in 1926 show an apparent cellar flooring immediately south of this point in the original shore.
(See Plate 2.)
parallel to the river. The bottom of the northern wall was
some 3 feet higher than the bottom of the southern wall,
showing that the building was constructed on a slope.
The following description of the foundation is condensed
from a report on the structure prepared by H. C. Forman
(Forman, 1935b).
The lower or south wall measured 13% inches in width and
averaged 3 courses in height. The wall rested directly on the
yellow sand and clay mixture on the beach. The eastern end of
the wall formed a corner. A few feet farther west the wall was
missing; it was present again farther on and disintegrated
finally at the western end. Each gap in the wall was charac-
terized by areas of brick fragments or brick dust.
The upper, or north wall had the same width as the lower
one and averaged six courses in height. The bottom course
on the north side was brick, but on the south side it was field
stone (sandstone and granite) which projected 1 or 2 inches
from the face of the brick. The bonding of the north wall
was very irregular, with many brick fragments used, but the
south wall was in regular English bond.
The western wall was entirely disintegrated except for 33V2
inches at its northern end. The bottom course of the remain-
ing western wall made a step-down to conform with the slope.
At the point where the step-down began, the wall broke out
ll/2 inches, with no apparent reason.
The eastern wall had several feet missing at the southern
end. The remainder of this wall also made two steps down
to conform with the slope of the ground.
64
The bricks from the two long walls of the foundation
differed in size and those of the upper wall, in general, were
harder. The lower wall bricks ran from 8l/2 to 9 inches long,
2% to 2y2 inches thick, and 4 to 4l/2 inches wide. Those
of the upper wall averaged 8l/2 to 8% inches long, 2i/2 inches
thick and 3% to 4i/2 inches wide. No traces of mortar were
found in the joints.
Roofing tile in great quantity was recovered from Structure 26
(these tiles now fill 25 drawers, 24 by 20 by iy2 inches). Both
flat tiles and pantiles are in the collections and most were
apparently used for roofing. A small percentage of flat tiles
have mortar adhering to them, evidence that they were used
for leveling the foundations. The flat roofing tiles have two
holes at the upper end. They average 5y2 inches in width and
Yg inch in thickness. No length measurements are available.
One floor tile fragment and a Dutch brick were also found, as
were 3 fragments of brown-glazed tile, iy8 inches thick.
Iron hardware items from the structure were recorded and
some of them were drawn on HABS sheets (Parris, 1935b).
The iron material is listed below.
No pottery is noted as being directly associated with Struc-
ture 26, but 395 sherds were recorded, by lot and square desig-
nation, from close by or in the foundation. These sherds are
of a wide variety of types and represent dates from the early
17th century to the 19th century. Pipestem fragments were
also kept only by lot and square designation. On this basis
those listed below are considered as being from in or near the
foundation. Pottery may best be described in 3 groups: that
with no data on depth (Group 1 ) ; that from 0 to 3 feet
(Group 2) ; and that from 18 to 40 inches (Group 3). Pipe-
stems are in 2 groups: no data as to depth, and 15-36 inches.
One lot of glass, 15 inches to 3 feet depth, is from close by
the foundation.
Earthenware: 105 white pipestems from near this founda-
tion would indicate a range in time from early in the 17th
century until well past the middle and possibly on toward the
end of the century. Eight white pipe bowls corroborate this
conclusion, since 2 are 1625-50, 1 is 1650-75, and 5 are 1675-
1700 or later. There are also 90 brown pipestem fragments,
probably locally made, with hole diameters ranging from %4
inches to i%4 inches. Nothing can be said at present about
the dating of these brown stem fragments.
Locally made, lead-glazed earthenware sherds are by far the
most numerous at Structure 26. In group 1 there are 46 sherds
of this kind, 39 sherds in Group 2, and 15 sherds in Group 3.
Three sherds of the same general type, but lacking any glaze,
are in Group 1. English lead -glazed earthenware is also numer-
ous in this collection. The light-bodied, green-glazed type is
represented by 22 sherds in Group 1, 26 sherds in Group 2, and
16 sherds in Group 3. Dark lead-glazed sherds number 5 in
Group 1, 20 in Group 2, and 7 in Group 3, while there are
9 hard-fired redware sherds in Group 1, and 11 in Group 2.
Seven unglazed Spanish olla sherds are located as follows: 2
in Group 1, 3 in Group 2, and 2 in Group 3. Group 1 con-
tains 6 sherds of the North Devon coarse-tempered ware, and
Groups 2 and 3 contain 5 sherds each. There is 1 sherd of
English combed slipware and 2 sherds of marbled slipware
in Group 1. Group 2 contains 3 sherds of the latter. English
sgraffito is sparsely represented, having only 5 sherds, all in
Group 3. Italian sgraffito and an Italian green-glazed ware are
present (5 and 2 sherds, respectively) in Group 1. Other
earthenware is of American 19th-century manufacture. There
are 2 sherds of Rockingham ware in Group 2, and Group 1
has 5 sherds of a dark-blue delftlike earthenware. There is
one 19th-century sherd with blue glaze and blue body in
Group 2.
Delftware: Group 1 has 17 sherds of English-Dutch blue-
on-white delftware. Group 2 has 36 sherds and Group 3 has
2 sherds of the same type. English white delft is present also:
9 sherds in Group 1, 11 in Group 2, and 2 in Group 3. English
manganese-purple-on-white is represented by 1 sherd in Group
1 and 3 sherds in Group 2. Lisbon majolica is present in
surprising quantity, there being 4 sherds in Group 1 and 7
sherds in Group 2.
Stoneware: There are 10 sherds of German brown -mottled
stoneware, 9 from Group 2 and the remaining 1 from Group 3.
German blue-on-gray stoneware is present in all levels: 2 sherds
in Group 1, 9 sherds in Group 2, and 1 sherd in Group 3.
Of English gray stoneware there are 6 sherds in Group 1, 4 in
Group 2, and 1 in Group 3.
Porcelain is represented by a single sherd of Oriental ware
in Group 2.
Glass: There are 6 window-glass fragments for which
there is no depth data. The following glass fragments occurred
in the 15-inch to 3-foot level: 4 gin-bottle fragments, 11 wine-
bottle fragments, and 1 piece of 20th-century white glass.
Metal: No depth was recorded for the following iron frag-
ments: 3 lock plates, 6 wrought spikes, 1 staple, one 5 -inch key,
1 chest lock, 1 strap hinge, 1 V-shaped padlock, and 1 drawer
handle. One lead came is also in the collection.
H. C. Forman said that A. L. Ayers, a former superin-
tendent of the Jamestown property of the Association for the
Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, made note in 1927 that
during February of that year he saw a foundation wall of
cobblestones and tumbled brick in the water immediately in
front of, and parallel to, the long sides of this foundation
(Forman, 1938, p. 144). If this was so, the building had two
rooms (exclusive of possible wooden partitions) in its lowest
story. No trace of the southern "room" remains today.
It was Forman's opinion that Structure 26 represented the
remains of a warehouse. Several facts tend to bear out his
conjecture. There is no evidence of fireplaces or of interior
partitions in this structure. Very little window glass was re-
covered from the area. The shape is unlike that of other
Jamestown buildings. The fact that it was built on a slope,
perhaps the river bank, would place it in a desirable location
for a storehouse.
The use of cobblestones in the foundation (found in only
65
'%■».' .'•»--.'
PLATE 33 — Structure 27 Pottery Kiln
Structure 27, a pottery kiln near the 1934 shore in Lot 96:99. The spring of the arch above the central fire chamber remains.
1 other structure at Jamestown, the earliest remaining church
foundation), the pipestem evidence, and the presence of such
early and middle 17th-century pottery types as Italian sgraffito,
Lisbon majolica, North Devon coarse-tempered ware, Spanish
olla forms, and locally made types, would indicate that Struc-
ture 26 (or its site) was in use early in the century. The date
of destruction cannot be determined with any certainty, but
from the pottery evidence it appears that the building remained
in use until near the end of the 17th or possibly into the
18th century.
Structure 27
Located in Lot 96:99 this structure was originally excavated
in 1935 and erroneously reported as a flight of steps on the
HABS sheets for Structures 26 and 27 (Parris, 1935b). Since
then, more detailed observations have proved that the structure
was definitely a rectangular pottery kiln of brick, oriented
roughly east-west, 6 feet 3 inches long and 5 feet 6^2 inches
wide. The central firebox opened to the east and was 14 inches
wide and extended 5 feet 1 inch, front to back. On either
side of the firebox was a pair of chambers from 1 foot 7 inches
to 1 foot 10 inches long, by 1 foot to 1 foot 3 inches wide.
Near the opening, on either side of the firebox, was a small
chamber 1 foot 1 inch by 7 feet 6 inches. There was enough
of the wall structure intact to indicate clearly the arched open-
ing of the firebox. The opening was estimated to have been
approximately 9 inches from floor to apex. Presumably the
kiln was loaded from the top.
The bricks of Structure 27 ranged from 7ys to 9 inches long,
with the average near 8I/2 inches. Width was 4 to 4%,
average, 4i/2 ; thickness, 2 to 2%, average 2%. The color
varied from orange (soft) to blue-gray (very hard). Most
66
were common brick ; a few, however, were tapered. The whole
area of the kiln was floored with 1 course of brickbats. A
sandy mortar was used evidently throughout the structure, with
no lime being preserved. The kiln was placed on a 7-inch bed
of sand. Many of the bricks were fragmentary, but an attempt
at English bond was visible on the east side. The joints were
Yg of an inch.
The north wall of the kiln was the most deeply footed,
having been placed on the top of the undisturbed earth from
which it rose 15 inches. The wall top was approximately 2.5
feet below the surface. Charcoal and ashes stained the soil on
the kiln floor.
Evidence that this structure was a pottery kiln is implicit not
only in the design, with well defined firing chambers and fire-
box, but also in associated artifacts, found in and near the
structure. These include 3 fragments of floor tiles, all with
glazed top and bottom surfaces, and 1 with glaze having run
down the side. Clearly these tile fragments were used as kiln
props. Fifteen brown pipestems and 10 brown pipebowls were
found ; 2 matching pieces — a bowl and a stem — were from a
pipe obviously a waster, having been overfired. It was warped
in the stem and had the clean, rough aspect of an unused
article. A second bowl of brown clay was decorated with a
punctate figure of a deer — a familiar motif used in decoration
of locally made clay pipes at Jamestown and also reported from
Indian sites in Virginia (Stewart, 1954). Although shapes of
bowls and diameters of stem holes in locally made pipes are
not yet adequately studied to permit relating them to periods
of manufacture, these 2 brown pipes correspond to second-half
17th-century white pipes in shape. The waster is possibly third
quarter, the decorated bowl, fourth. By analogy, the locally
made pipes are probably second half of the century, since the
majority of white pipestems range in the second half.
The white-pipe evidence indicates a considerable spread of
dating from the second quarter to the last. (The greatest pro-
portion of stems fits into the 1620-50 category, and the rest,
1650-80; i.e., %4- and %4-inch diameters, respectively.) One
white pipebowl is of the 1625-50 shape, and 3 are 1675-
1700 plus. The balance of artifact evidence consists of 39
sherds of blue-on-white delftware, one piece of English white
"delft," and 2 pieces of Spanish majolica. The absence of
locally made pottery at the kiln itself is indicated in the records
here, but there is a fair variety of lead-glazed earthenware of
utility type from the lot area, including some locally made.
Conclusion: At Jamestown there were two foci of industry
identified through archeological exploration. One borders Pitch
and Tar Swamp to the north. It includes Structure 111, a
pottery kiln and possibly a lime kiln and metal-working or
smelting pit. This area also includes Structure 110, a building
in which brewing, distilling, or other industry was carried on.
Also bordering Pitch and Tar Swamp to the west of Structure
110 and 111 is the large brick and tile kiln, Structure 102.
The second location favored for industry appears to have been
the shore area between the churchyard and Orchard Run. This
area includes Structure 27, under discussion; Structure 76, a
probable warehouse; Structure 47 and 46, lime kilns; Structure
119, a problematical furnace building; Structure 126, a pos-
sible workshop; and Structure 127, the small brick kiln which
is the earliest structure of its type at Jamestown.
The industry bordering Pitch and Tar Swamp was active in
the second and third quarters of the 17th century. The indus-
trial features lying along the James River probably range from
the first to the third quarter. Structure 27 cannot be dated
with certainty, but it is highly probable that it was in operation
by mid-century, at least, and that it represented the type of
kiln in which clay vessels were made. The presence of the
probable clay pipe "waster" and a quantity of locally made clay
pipes from the surrounding lot suggest strongly that clay pipes
were fired here, as well. It is interesting to observe that a
number of locally made clay-pipe fragments were also found
around and in the small brick kiln, Structure 127, near Orchard
Run. This suggests the possibility that pipes were made there,
as well as at the pottery kiln, Structure 27.
The Structure 27 kiln was definitely intended for firing
earthenware objects, since the glaze on the kiln props is lead in
origin, and no evidence of salt-glazed stoneware or heat suffi-
cient to make stoneware is present. In fact, it can be said con-
fidently that no stoneware was ever made at Jamestown.
Structure 28
This structure, a trace of brick masonry wall on Lot 95:100,
was encountered 8 feet 3 inches slightly south of east and
extending parallel to the north wall of Structure 27, the pre-
sumed warehouse, on the 1934 shoreline.
Nothing is reported on Structure 28 in the notes of 1935
except that a portion of wall 18 inches wide was observed to
extend beneath the ferry wharf approach road. For this reason
it could not be explored further at that time. Unfortunately,
this road was in use until January 1957, and no opportunity
for further excavation of this structure has presented itself.
Not even brick size is known.
A search in the collection for artifacts found above this
structure fragment and in the immediate vicinity (10 feet
square) has yielded a surprising amount of information con-
cerning tobacco-pipe dating. A total of 59 white pipestem
fragments shows a range from 1620 to 1680, with the major
portion probably before 1650. However, of 14 white bowls,
12 were 1675-1700 plus shapes and 2 were 1650-75. Eighteen
brown pipestems of local manufacture were found.
In summary we can only say at this time that the trace of
masonry designated Structure 28 represents a structure which
could have been an adjunct of Structure 27 — perhaps even a
structural part of it.
Artifacts Pertinent to Structures 26, 27, 28, and 67
The shoreline area excavated between the former wharfs in
1934-35 is principally in Lots 96:99 and 96:100. Therefore
data from artifacts found within these lots, but not in or close
67
to structures, are of interest. (The northeast portion of Lot
96:100 containing Well 7 and Structure 60 is not included.)
The significance of tobacco pipes and other ceramic evidence
from the two lots is readily apparent from the aritfact tabula-
tion: in this location there was a definite concentration of early
occupation, probably from the first quarter of the 17th century.
This fact is attested by 18 white pipebowls dating from 1600
to 1625, approximately. Of the remainder of the 54 pipe
bowls, 29 were late 17th century, from 1675 to 1700 plus
(including 9 with no heel, but rather a rounded bottom to
the bowl) ; 1 had a partly obliterated mark showing an "L"
(probably "LE") on the bowl; and 1 had a "W" on the bowl.
Thus, there was a concentration of early 17th-century cultural
evidence here, as well as a second concentration of late 17th-
century cultural evidence. The 156 fragments of locally made
brown clay pipestems and 10 bowls, 5 punctate decorated, indi-
cate considerable usage (perhaps manufacture of these pipes
in the vicinity) .
The balance of ceramic evidence is not especially significant
except to bear out in a general way the inference gained from
the tobacco pipes. Dutch blue-on-white delft (54 pieces) and
Lisbon majolica (1 piece) are probably from the first half of
the 17th century, for the most part.
English white delftware is probably from the second half
of the century. Among 43 sherds, probably locally made, 1
appears to have been part of a waster. There are fewer
English-made vessels represented, and only parts of two His-
panic amphora.
It would seem strange that a distinct waster pile was not dis-
covered in the vicinity of the pottery kiln, Structure 27. It
may be logical to assume that this material was accumulated
aboveground, since there is no depression or made hole in
which waster products could be collected. In this case, the
refuse of the kiln may have been dispersed by being carried
considerable distances and used for ballast or fill. To date,
however, waster piles have not been identified at Jamestown
and waster products are not recorded archeologically for roads
or paths, whether 17th or 18th century.
In 2 drawers full of bottle glass, 4 pieces are from Dutch
gin bottles, and the rest from wine bottles. Of the glass from
wine bottles only one piece is recognizably third quarter. The
remaining wine-bottle glass is fourth quarter 17th century or
a little later.
STRUCTURE 35
Structure 35 is associated in Lot 91:111 with Ditch 14, Well
9, and Well 10. The brick masonry trace consists of a prob-
able chimney foundation 12 feet wide of undetermined front-
to-back measurement. The wing or side walls appear to be
2 feet 8l/2 inches wide and the main back wall is 2 feet wide,
according to the record of the Civilian Conservation Corps
foreman, T. C. Miller. Miller's field notes are all the data
that survive for this lot, excavated in advance of constructing
a field laboratory in 1935. Unfortunately, a road in use during
excavation ran across the east side of this structure trace, prob-
ably above the remainder of the house, and formed the boun-
dary of the excavation. The top of this "wall of bricks" was
found 8 inches below the surface.
Miller's notes (the only written report of the excavation)
continue, "The wall we are at present uncovering extends in
a south by southwest direction to E 60, S 20 and at this latter
end has a rounded appearance. Pipes, pieces of bottles,
pottery, glass, nails, part of scissors, bones, all have been found
in this area." Brickwork was 10 inches below the surface.
A search of the collection yielded three white pipebowls
found here, each of which clearly represented a dating of 1620-
40. White pipestems from the vicinity were all characterized
by relatively large holes. The locally made brown clay pipe-
stems were extraordinarily thick, with large holes, short, and
modeled.
Also associated with Structure 35 were a spigot cock (old
Cat. No. 135), miscellaneous pottery (not searched from the
collection), a roofing slate, 3 roofing tile fragments, 2 floor
tiles, and a Venetian glass goblet (Old Cat. No. 1771). This
goblet was taken from a depth of 1 foot 7 inches to 2 feet
9 inches. It has been restored and dates in the 4th quarter
of the 1 7th century by apparent type.
In summary, evidence is too inconclusive to permit descrip-
tion of Structure 35. However, we may surmise that it belongs
to the early association of Wells 9, 10, and 21 in the first half
of the 17th century, if we assume the goblet to be either in-
trusive or of earlier date. The evidence is inadequate but
suggestive, and this interesting area should have a complete
excavation in the future. It could well demonstrate the presence
of structures contemporaneous with the early settlement near
Orchard Run.
STRUCTURES 34-37, 86, 83, 84, 85, 36, AND 33,
WELL 13, DITCHES 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, AND 7
(Resume: Structures and Features of the
"May-Hartwell" Tract)
J. C Harrington has reported exhaustively upon the May-
Hartwell tract area. His reports cover research, explorations,
and excavaitons carried out in 1935, 1938, and 1939 by H.
Summerfield Day and J. C. Harrington. These reports are
models of their kind. They are limited only by lack of basic
and definitive research in artifact types and dates and by defi-
ciencies in field data gathered prior to Harrington's work.
Thus, the reader is referred directly to the reports for complete
data (Harrington, 1940a) (Day, 1935). Only a brief sum-
mary and comment is offered here.
Historical Data
At the end of his "Summary of Documentary Data" (p. 17)
Harrington concludes:
68
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a. William May built a house, probably in 1661 or 1662, size and
material not known, located . . . [approximately in Lot 94:109]-
b. After Bacon's Rebellion William White rebuilt this house, or
erected a new one nearby.
c. Henry Hartwell occupied the White house from 1689 until 1695.
d. The house was probably not occupied after that date, and no
buildings are known to have been built there subsequently.
e. Structures are not likely to have occupied this area prior to William
May's time.
Structures 36, 83, 84, 85, and Feature 2
These structures (Lots 94:110 and 95:110) denote a rectan-
gular layout of late 18th- or early 19th-century garden walks
associated with the Ambler House (see base map in pocket).
(These walks are stratigraphically placed later than most
post holes, the ditches, Well 13, and both Structures
34-37 and 86.) The walks average 6 to 7 feet wide. They
are filled with brick rubble and are sometimes bounded by
header or stretcher courses of brick. If they were paved with
brick on top, the top courses have disappeared. The brick
sizes range from 8 to 9% inches long, 4 to 4% inches wide
and 1% to 2% inches thick. The average brick size is 8% by
4y8 by 2%6 inches. The conclusion is that the bricks are
definitely salvaged from 17th-century ruins. Adhering mortar
and the broken condition of the bricks substantiate this obser-
vation.
Well 13
This well underlies the southwest corner of Structure 34-37
(a single unit house erroneously given separate numbers for the
west and east ends in 1935). The house and the well must
be considered together. The well was found to be a simple
circular hole, 5 feet in diameter, dug about 9 feet below the old
ground line. Since no siding or barrel could be traced in the
well, the lining must have been removed when the well was
abandoned, for no such hole would have remained a week
without caving in. It can be assumed that this well and all
similar "earth" wells at Jamestown once had wooden sidings,
if no masonry was present.
The fill of Well 13 indicated that the hole had been filled
at one time by relatively clean earth, without lying open to slow
accumulation. At the bottom (7 to 8 feet below the original
ground surface) lay an accumulation of bricks (probably from
a surface housing) . Also at the bottom were several artifacts.
These included a large wooden dish (probably a trencher or
oblong scoop such as a baker uses for gathering flour) ; an
earthenware jug (handle missing) ; fragments of two small
slipware mugs; an iron brush knife; an iron bar which may
have been an auger ; a bone covered with blue paint ; and several
pieces of wood. Of these only the wooden trencher and one
small slipware jug could be located in the collection at this
time (1957) . This small slipware mug or pitcher is an example
of slip-decorated American redware, featuring wavy lines and
bands of cream slip. It is probably of local manufacture and
representative of the middle 18th century.
Before a thorough study had been made of the material
Harrington (1940a) commented:
Although the objects recovered were whole, or nearly so, they are of
such a type that no very limited age can be assigned to them. The 3
earthenware objects might have been made any time during the 17th
century, or even later. The wooden dish and the two iron objects may
prove to be diagnostic of a defiinte period, but the writer is unable to
assign a date to them. The bricks would seem to offer one of the best
means of dating this well.
The bricks from the well are described as unique in shape,
uniformly of a light, salmon-orange color, very soft (under-
fired), and with the "struck" surface, pock-marked as if by
rain, before firing. The size averaged 8l/2 by 4]/8 by 113/16
inches. The thinness is the distinctive feature, almost approach-
ing that of tile. The present writer knows of no early 17th-
century analogy in brick type at Jamestown. The salmon-orange
color is simply due to underfiring. In this respect, bricks of
the earliest-known kiln, Structure 127, located near Orchard
Run and dating in the first quarter of the 17th century, were
a "fire red," except where they were unfired, near the earth
wall of the pit. The size of these early bricks ranged from
8 1/2 by 4 by 2l/8 inches to 9 by 4]/4 by 2l/2 inches — clearly not
manifesting the thin characteristic. Similarly, the salmon-colored
bricks of Structure 112, while as thin as 1% inches were not
unusually thin. They were in the average range of 8l/2 by
4i/g inches to slightly larger.
The iron brush knife is a handwrought iron specimen, excel-
lently preserved, with a sleeve haft through which a rivet hole
was made. Its dating is uncertain at this time.
The most definitive specimens from the well fill, however,
are a collection of 10 white pipebowl fragments, 16 white
stems and 8 locally made brown stems and 2 brown bowl frag-
ments. The white bowls, distinctively of the heelless type, are
long, of good capacity, and date from the end of the 17th
century well into the first half of the 18th. Stem holes of
white pipes would also appear to range in this time interval.
The locally made pipes cannot be dated, as yet, but the appear-
ance of bowls and stems does not suggest early manufacture.
Good dating evidence from the fill also comes from over 100
wine-bottle fragments. These illustrate a globular shape asso-
ciated with the last quarter of the 17th century and the first
quarter of the 18th. Half a dozen gin-bottle fragments were
noted.
Thus, Well 13 bottom fill — probably laid down when the
well was in use or shortly after abandonment — appears to be
early 18th century. Most of the objects of the remainder of
the fill are from the last quarter of the 17th through the first
quarter of the 18th century. Therefore, it is probable that
Structure 34-37, built above the well, dates no earlier than the
end of the 17th century, and is probably 18th century.
Structure 34-37
This was a single house traced by an east chimney base and
a southwest corner, both of brick masonry. The bricks uni-
70
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PLATE 34— Structure 34-37
Structure 34-37 in Lot 93:110. Structure 34 is the large fireplace foundation at the right. The remaining foundation traces of this house, originally
frame on a brick footing, had been obliterated except for a small remnant (Structure 37) of the southwest corner footing preserved beneath the
Ambler garden path (Structure 36). The brick rubble of Ihis path appears upper left, but the Structure 37 remnant is not visible.
formly average 9Vs by 4!/2 by 2% inches. The mortar shows
oyster shell content. The house was presumably frame on a
light brick foundation, approximately 1 6 by 32 feet. Harrington
observes, "Lacking artifacts definitely associated with the struc-
ture, the only means of dating it, or of reconstructing its
original appearance is by stratigraphic relationship with other
structures and features, and ... by architectural evidence."
However, it has since been possible to relate a wealth of arti-
facts listed in the catalogue of 1935 to the exact structure area
on the base map.
Approximately 1,000 pipe fragments are recorded and at
least half that number were observed to remain in the collection.
The pipes were uniformly of the 1680-1720 period, and pos-
sibly later. Significantly, not one pipe fragment of earlier
17th-century bowl form was found. Less than y5 of the pipe
fragments were locally made. Roofing tile fragments (not
specified as to type) were numerous. The most interesting
ceramic evidence lay scattered a short distance north of Struc-
ture 34—37. This consisted of fragments from an entire earth-
enware oven and door which has been reconstructed (now on
view at the Jamestown visitor center) . Two wine bottles could
be reconstructed from fragments within the structure area. One
is typical of the fourth quarter, the other of the third quarter
of the 17th century. Three goblet fragments, one sealed, were
here. At least one "HH" seal came from the area, and several
nearby. Brass objects — pins, wire, turncocks, pulls, buckles,
etc. — were numerous. In sum, the artifact evidence indicates
that most of the refuse in the soil that covered the foundation
below the sod zone was of the 1680-1720 period, and not
earlier.
Structure 86
Like Structure 34-37, Structure 86 was precedent to the
Ambler House garden walk of brick which originally overlay a
portion of each structure. This conclusion is accepted by
Harrington, who marshalls good reasons for it. Structure 86
was excavated under Harrington's direction. Meticulous notes
and observations were made showing that this was a frame
structure resting on shallow brick footings, approximately 47l/2
feet by 21 feet in overall dimensions. The central longitudinal
71
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PLATE 35 — Structure 86 After Excavation
Viewed from the soutnwest. The central (north-south) footing of masonry was presumably to help support floor sills. A fragment of the south-
end chimney appears right of center. The northeast corner of the house is above and left of center. The brick walk of the Ambler garden (Structures
83 and 85) was built over Structure 86 as shown by preservation beneath the masonry remnants of Structure 86 (Lot 94:110).
footing suggested that the first floor was constructed of wooden
joists. The absence of cross walls (in contrast to Structure 6)
indicated that the house contained one large room on the
ground floor. Two chimneys were located respectively at the
gable ends, which were probably of brick. The east and west,
or front and rear walls were more probably frame. No evi-
dence of destruction by fire was observed. Bricks were within
the range of 17th-century Jamestown sizes:
Length, 8V4 to 9V4 inches — average 8% inches.
Width, 4 to 45/8 inches — average 4%c, inches.
Thickness, 2 to 2% inches — average 2 7/kj inches.
The notable archeological observation in respect to Structure
86 is that its walls were preserved only beneath the garden
walks. This shows that the plow could have completely des-
troyed any and all evidence of prior and other structures in
the vicinity except for Structure 34-37.
Artifact notations for Structure 86 are very limited. The
only stratigraphically significant (protected) level, Cb, "con-
tained few actual artifacts with the exception of a large quan-
tity of bottle glass." The bottles were globular and short-
necked like those at Structure 34-37 and Ditch 5 ; i.e., last
quarter 17th cenutry or a little beyond. A trace of lead cames,
but no window glass; a few fragments of window tiles and
slate; some delft wall tile and lath-marked plaster; a large, iron
door key and very few nails are all the artifacts encountered.
(No "HH" seals were found.) On frankly speculative evidence
but with some confidence, Harrington concludes that Structure
72
PLATE 36 — Conjectural Painting of Structure 86
Structure 86 (Lot 94:110) somewhat fancifully viewed presumably through the window of Structure 38, the "Country House," 130 feet to the
northwest. Structure 86 is assumed by Harrington to have been the Hartwell House and Structure 34-37 (right, distance) to have been the Hartwell
kitchen. Research by Kocher and Harrington. Conjectural painting by Sidney E. King.
86 was the May-Hartwell, or at least, the Hartwell House.
Structure 34-37 (with the "HH" seals found nearby, mainly in
Ditch 5) was the Hartwell House kitchen, if not the May
House.
Ditch 5 and Structure 33
These two features, a ditch and a brick drain in the ditch,
are considered concurrently. In these features lay the greatest
concentration of artifact material from any one location at
Jamestown Island. Certainly most of it is directly attributable
to Structure 34-37, where comparable material lay scattered.
The most significant and most numerous of the identifiable
ceramic pieces, whole and fragmentary, are sgraffito, or yellow,
lead-glazed earthenware of the same paste and slip, without
scratched decoration. At the present writing (1957) sgraffito
from the Barnstaple area is thought to represent the interval,
1640-60. If this dating is correct, it would seem supported
by the presence also of items derived from delftware, such
as probable Bristol, 1650-1700; Lambeth (pre-1680 and per-
haps as far back as 1600) ; a gin bottle; two wine bottles from
the third quarter of the 17th century; and a Venetian wine
goblet of about 1675. All this evidence may indicate that
structural features earlier than Well 13, Structure 34-37, and
Structure 86 once existed in the Lot 93:110 vicinity. In this
vicinity they could have been destroyed by the Ambler garden
development. But there is a notable lack of evidence that this
tract was occupied during the first half of the 17th century —
certainly not in the first quarter.
The obvious conclusion from the evidence from Ditch 5 and
Structure 33 is that the ditch and the drain were constructed
about mid- 17th century and later filled with trash chiefly repre-
senting the fourth quarter of the 17th and first quarter of the
18th century. The dating coincides very well with the Hart-
well occupancy (1689-95) in the vicinity, perhaps in Struc-
73
••.-.--. '••■.>v -vr
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PLATE 37— Structure 33 BwV* Dw/»
Brick drain, Structure 33, looking north. This drain lies in Ditch 5
and ends opposite the east wall of Structure 34-37, and appears to be
in the Hartwell Tract. In this ditch and above the drain were found many
artifacts, notably the major portion of the sgraffito whole vessels in the
Jamestown collection (Lot 93:110).
ture 34-37 itself. However such an early dating could be dis-
puted by what appears to be an early 18th-century American
redware pitcher discovered in the bottom of precedent Well 13.
It may be necessary to consider the dating of this object again,
closely. The mass of detritus in Ditch 5 easily points to Struc-
ture 34-37 as a kitchen, and suggests this ditch no longer
marked a boundary. But the identity of Structure 86 as Hart-
well's house will probably remain, as it has been, a reasonable
hunch.
Ditches 6 and 7
Nothing diagnostic is recorded for Ditch 6. Curiously
enough, no pipe fragments could be located in the collection
to cast light on the dating of the fill of Ditch 7, although 19
such fragments are recorded. However, window glass, a goblet
fragment, some glass and tile fragments, undescribed, are re-
corded. A possible fragment of a brass pricket candlestick
(old Cat. No. 3135) is also reported.
Ditches 2 and 3
These ditches extend parallel to each other eastward from
the Hartwell tract toward Orchard Run. Ditch 2 makes a
somewhat puzzling V-shaped projection southward at 91:116,
but its relationship to property tracts here is uncertain. The
final and indefinite course of Ditch 2 is northward. Ditch 3
was traced almost to Orchard Run, where contours at the edge
PLATE 38— Baking Oven
This oven (J-7777) was restored from fragments found scattered over
an area north of Structure 34-37 in the presumed tract of Henry Hart-
well, supporting other evidence that this building was a kitchen.
of the run suggest that here may have been an early crossing
of this marshy ground, corresponding to the crossing by an
historic road, intact here to 1956.
Of Ditch 2 artifacts, nothing definitive is recorded, except
for a salt-glazed, brown-mottled stoneware jug (Cat. No.
J-7529) of the late 17th century.
Oven Evidence
One complete oven of coarse, gravel-tempered earthenware
(Bideford?) was found in the vicinity of Structures 34-37,
mostly within 50 feet north, in Lot 101. The complete door
was also here.
A door-handle fragment to such an oven was found in Lot
93 to the north and west, and of the same earthenware.
A piece of oven, represented by a large sherd of this same
ware was found in Lot 63.
Another fragment of door handle to such an oven was found
in Lot 35.
STRUCTURES 31, 38, 44-53-138, 58, AND 65
The entire complex of structures in the vicinity of Structure
31 must be considered together in order to understand their
possible relationship (see Figure 12). First the 18th- and 19th-
century Ambler structures must be grouped and separated —
these are: Structures 30, 99, 32 (all parts of the east wing of
the Ambler mansion) ; and Structures 73, 59, and 54, all
oriented approximately the same as Structure 30 and lying to
the north where they probably served as outbuildings. These
structures associated with the Ambler House are discussed in a
separate section (pp. 28-31)
74
\1
I
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FIGURE 1 1 — Area in Vicinity of the Ambler House
The area north of Structures 31 and 38 was explored only
superficially in 1935 and backfilled before the foundations could
be completely uncovered and recorded.
Structure 31 must be regarded as subsequent to and within
the east and west ends of Structure 38. Structure 31 is overlain
in turn by the frame east wing of the Ambler House — the last,
fortunately, having no cellar. Whether or not the earliest of
these 3 structures — No. 38 — had a cellar is not evident; but
if it had one, it was usurped by the cellar of Structure 31.
Structure 38 appears to have been 53 feet by 20 feet. Structure
31 was 43 feet 9 inches by 20 feet and at an unknown period
was extended some 12 feet north of the north wall of Structure
38. The fate of Structure 38 is not evident, but observations
made at the time of the excavations formed the conclusion that
Structure 31 did not burn.
The relationship of Structures 31 and 38 to the nearby 17th-
century structure (44-53-138) to the northwest is interesting.
This 17th-century structure is designated Structure 44 (north
wing), Structure 53 (center), and Structure 138 (south wing).
It was a large house with two wings situated on either side of
a central square room. The central juncture was built above
a 6-foot, brick-paved cellar. This 3-part house was situated
at right angles to Structure 38 and 20 feet west, extending
40 feet to the north. Unfortunately, the excavation of this
important structure was not completed and data remain frag-
mentary. Although lots 68 and 69 on the old grid encom-
passing this entire area were extensively excavated in 1935,
Ditch 1 could not be traced south of Structure 44. Had this
significant ditch extended farther south it would have divided
Structure 44-53-138 from Structure 31-38 and could possibly
have intercepted the latter at the west end. Since it did not,
there must have been a jog in the original west boundary of
the Country House tract and in the subsequent Knowles and
Sherwood tracts, to accommodate Structures 31 and 38.
Forman confidently assumes that Structure 38 was "The
Country House" of the Governor between 1619 and 1669, and
that Structure 31 was William Sherwood's house recorded on
the Ambler plat of 1680. Forman identifies Structure 44-53-
138 as the house of Colonel Walter Chiles, Sr., or his son
Walter, who erected a brick house prior to 1671 (Forman,
1938, pp. 120-127). One thing is certain. This interesting
house unit was a structure of considerable importance since a
large number of quality artifacts were found in the excavations
above the brick flooring and about the side walls. Among
these artifacts were a seal-top spoon handle and latten spoon
handle of brass, a brass candle snuffer, thimbles of bronze,
and a glass goblet. Also a large quantity of ornamental plaster
appears in the collection from these foundations.
Of particular significance is an "RW" bottle seal found in
the Structure 44 foundation which has been identified as from
the same die as an "RW" seal from a building burned by the
London Fire of 1666. (Identification is by Ivor Noel Hume,
glass specialist, archeologist and formerly of Guildhall Museum,
London). In Hatch's citation of "An Unidentified Structure"
in the Wyatt tract at Jamestown, which may have been bounded
on the east by Ditch 1, he writes the following (Hatch, 1940,
p. 57):
When William Sherwood sold one half acre of the Wyatt tract to
John Harris on May 11, 1696 for £35 sterling it included "one dwell-
ing house in & upon ye same erected wth a brick chimney ..." A
further statement "late in ye occupation of Mr Secretary Wormley"
points out that the building had been in use before 1696 and was used
by Ralph Wormley, secretary of state for the colony . . .
[A related footnote follows:] Could this house with a brick chimney
mean a frame house with a brick chimney? One comment on the burn-
ing of Jamestown during Bacon's Rebellion stated that "The Towne
consisted of 12 new brick Houses besides a considerable number of
Frame houses with brick Chimneys . . ."
Ralph Wormley, son of Ralph Wormley, burgess and councilor, was
born about 1650. Educated in England he returned to spend the rest
of his life in Virginia. In 1674 he was a member of the House of
Burgesses, in 1677 received appointment to the council, and in 1693
became secretary of the state for the colony and president of the council.
"His home, Roseg/ll (on the Rappahannock River in Middlesex
County), was for many years the centre of a lavish hospitality, and
from him descended a long line of men who stood at the forefront of
the economic, social, and political life of the Commonwealth."
Structure 58, probably a frame structure on a slight brick
footing, was oriented with Structure 31 and is probably a 17th-
century dependency. Structure 65 was a brick kiln, and very
probably was related to the building of Structure 31 near which
it lies and with which it is oriented.
Structure 133 is an 18th- or 19th-century superficial brick
pavement, probably the remnant of a small subsidiary building
of the Ambler establishment.
Observations on Structure 31 by archeologist H. Summer-
75
V
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*b .••&£>*
FIGURE 12 — P/<j« 0/ Structures East of the Ambler House
field Day (Day, 1935)* are as follows: The thick walls
(1 foot 6 inches) presumably support brick walls above
ground. The building had a fireplace certainly at the east
end, and probably a second one at the west end, although
evidence of the latter had been partially destroyed by removal
of that section to make way for a wall footing for Structure 30.
A brick partition wall divided the basement into two almost
equal-size rooms connected by a doorway. On the north side
of the west room, a stairway led from the outside. The floor
* In his report, Day does not mention that Henry Chandlee Forman
worked at this excavation. Forman in his Jamestown and St. Mary's
(p. 118, footnote) states that he identified "Sherwood's House" (Struc-
ture 31) as "The Governor's residence," and that he "began excavations
there May 15, 1935." He does not mention Day.
Upper. — Cellar foundation walls (Structure 31) from the east. Wall
footings of Structure 38 extend beyond each end. The L-shaped wall
intrusion in the southwest corner, and the walls at upper left of pho-
tograph, are part of the east wing of the Ambler House, Structure 30.
Lower.— Structure 31 — the substantial foundation of a brick house — had
a cellar paved with brick laid in a "herringbone" pattern. A great
number of pieces of ornamental plaster were found in this cellar. This
view, from the west, shows in the foreground traces of Structure 38,
the presumed west end of an earlier house whose east end may be
seen just beyond the cellar wall. An extension of Structure 31 to the
north, probably frame, may be traced in a superficial footing at the
left. If Structure 38 is not merely an extension or addition to Struc-
ture 31, it may be the "Country House." (The L-shaped wall intrud-
ing into the cellar is the east wing of the Ambler House, Structure 30.)
76
PLATE 39— Structures 30, 31, and 38
Upper. — Cellar foundation walls (Structure 31) from the east wall footings of Structure 38 extending beyond each end. The L-shaped wall intrusion
in the southwest corner, and the walls at upper left of photograph, are part of the east wing of the Ambler House, Structure 30.
Lower. — Structure 31 — the substantial foundation of a brick house — had a cellar paved with brick laid in a "herringbone" pattern. Approximately
50,000 pieces of ornamental plaster were found in this cellar. This view, from the west, shows in the foreground traces of Structure 38, the presumed
west end of an earlier house whose east end may be seen just beyond the cellar wall. An extension of Structure 31 to the north, probably frame, may
be traced in a superficial footing at the left. If Structure 38 is not merely an extension or addition to Structure 31, it may be the "Country House."
(The L-shaped wall intruding into the cellar is the east wing of the Ambler House, Structure 30.)
77
PLATE 40 — Conjectural Reconstruction of Structure 38
This structure (Lot 95:109-96:109) has been considered possibly to represent the "Country House," or Governor's residence. Research by Kocher
and Forman. Painting by Sidney E. King.
of the cellar was paved with brick laid in a herringbone
pattern.
Within the basement the fill consisted of a large quantity of
brick, tile, and roofing slate intermingled with the dirt, in-
dicating that the walls were brick and that the roof was of tile
with some slate. There was no evidence in the basement fill
and the surrounding area that Structure 31 was destroyed by
fire. The assumption is that it was probably abandoned and
fell into ruin from disuse. The brick chimney of the east wall
had fallen into the cellar and lay partially intact so that the
use of common bonding could be observed. The brick aver-
aged 8% by 4y4 by 2y2-23/8 inches (Forman, 1938, p. 121).
Forman relates that "more than fifty thousand" fragments of
plaster were removed from the fill of Structure 31 (Forman,
1938, p. 121). Both Forman and Day observed that most of
it was flat wall plaster laid directly against brick, the balance
being fragments of ornamental plaster or pargetry. Some of the
ornamental plaster is a molding that served as a decorative trim
around a panel or as a cove molding in the ceiling. Certain
pieces appear to have leaves from part of a floral design.
Forman noted the motifs of the garter and the rosette and also
a hand and book, and believed that the Royal British coat of
arms was represented in pargetry, the last VI and Y suggested
motto Honi soit qvi mal y pense.
Day mentions that "Practically no artifacts have been re-
covered from this or the associated foundations." This led
Day to assume that the building was deserted before it was
destroyed (Day, 1935, pp. 23-24). However, the artifacts
listed in the catalogue as having been found here are numerous
and significant.
Structure 31 Artifacts
Clay Pipes. The "Country House" area collection of clay
pipes from all depths and from the general site generally indi-
cates dating in the second half of the 17th century. The major-
ity of pipebowls and pipestems pertain to the last quarter of
the 17th century and the first quarter of the 18th century.
Many of the 1680-1720 clay pipebowls are without heels.
78
Only a few white bowls are earlier than the third quarter and
only two bowls are recognizable as second quarter of the 17th
century. About a quarter of the bowls and stems were reddish
and orange clay, and of local manufacture. Most of these
locally made pipes are made with a mold, and one has the
initials "RR" stamped on the heel. There are at least eight early
19th century decorated bowls and partial stems, forming the
familiar L-shape. White bowl initials, on the heels, are "RT" ;
"EL" (1675-1700 bowl type); "TS" ; and an indeterminate
example which appears to be "PG." The pipebowl and pipe-
stem fragments upon which these general observations have
been made, and which pertain to the general Structure 31 site,
total between 400 and 500 fragments.
Clay pipes selected exclusively from detritus below the fallen
east chimney of Structure 31 and in the lowest portion of the
fill of the cellar are uniform in dating. They clearly indicate
that Structure 31 was in use well into the 18th century, quite
possibly into the last half.
Glass. After clay pipes, the next most reliable criterion of
age relating to the last occupation of Structure 31 is glass,
particularly wine bottles, located in the cellar fill. From what
must have been originally a larger number of glass specimens,
5 fragments of wine bottles were late 17th to early 18th cen-
tury, 13 were late 18th century, and 70 were indeterminate
small fragments. Ten window-glass fragments were preserved
from this fill. Several miscellaneous fragments of pressed glass
found in the Structure 31 fill are early 19th century, or at the
least, late 18th.
Plaster. According to Forman (1938, p. 121) more than
50,000 pieces of oyster shell plaster were collected from the
cellar of Structure 31. Excavation records bear out the evi-
dence that a large quantity of this material was found, and
that a considerable number of the pieces were ornamental in
nature (pargetry). The implications derived by Forman from
the pargetry have already been noted. However, it is certainly
obvious from the archeological record and from Forman's
own comments that the pargetry and plain plaster (laid on
both wood and brick surfaces) belonged to Structure 31.
Forman and later interpreters at Colonial National Historical
Park refer to this structure as "Sherwood's House" on the
assumption that it was the structure built by 1680 on the ruins
of the "Country House." Therefore, the plaster cannot belong
to the "Country House," which would be Structure 38, on
which Structure 31 intrudes. So the question of whether or
not the pargetry graced the original residence of the Governor
need not be raised — it was definitely in the later, intrusive
Structure 31.
Brick and Tile. The brick of the fallen east chimney of
Structure 31 is recorded by Forman as averaging 8% by 4y4
by 21/2 to 2% inches. This description could not be checked
from the collection since time (1957) does not allow all brick
samples to be located and verified with the catalog. However,
3 random samples were located and checked, the range of
which was from 9 by 4i/2 by 2^4 to 8 by 4 by 2. These bricks
were fired well to medium, and one was a glazed header.
Undoubtedly, they are locally made, possibly in a nearby kiln,
Structure 65, a large brick kiln incompletely excavated and
recorded, which lies only 20 feet northeast of Structure 31.
Earthenware, Including Dutch Tile. From the fill of
Structure 31a fair sampling of earthenware was checked. This
indicated that lead-glazed utility earthenware, both local and
imported, was present. However, the definitive ware was
delft, which included both Dutch and English, and ranged
in the late 17th century into the 18th century. Some Dutch
tile was observed.
Metals. Objects of brass were most numerous in Structure
31 fill, including thimbles, buckles and buttons, a candle
snuffer rings or grommets, a tack, spur, and miscellaneous
unidentified fragments in the vicinity. From the lower portion
of the fill came a brass spigot, a latten spoon bowl, a candle-
stick fragment, a skillet fragment, a chafing dish, a clock wheel,
a tack, and miscellaneous fragments. These objects bespeak
18th-century usage, and, for the most part, 18th-century manu-
facture, although some may be earlier.
Objects of Iron. Iron objects recovered from Structure 31
and vicinity merit close and detailed study. At this writing,
the objects which have been catalogued after preparation have
not been related to structures on the base map. However, one
item of significance, an andiron, is readily identified as having
been recovered from a depth of 3 feet in the fill. This is of
English make, a 17th-century type, probably about 1650, and is
decorated with a cherub's head.
Artifacts of Structure 44-33-138
Although Structure 44, the north wing, is represented in
the scanty field notes as having had a brick floor, presumably
that of a cellar, the artifacts recorded from this area in the
catalogue come from depths of less than 2 feet from the
surface. Water-table brick is well represented by 42 pieces.
Unfortunately, of 400 pieces of miscellaneous pottery listed
in the catalogue for Structure 44, nothing could be located in
the collection. Nor were 300 additional pieces of miscellaneous
pottery available. Pipe fragments which could be found in
the collection are only about a quarter of those listed in the
catalogue. One white bowl dated from 1680 to 1720. A dis-
tinctive floral relief pattern decorated two fragments of white
stems. Metal objects in the north wing included a brass button
and buckle, a candle snuffer, a seal-top spoon handle, an
andiron fragment, and 4 tacks, all brass. Some 55 pieces of
ornamental plaster from Structure 44 indicate that the focus
of use for pargetry was not here but rather in the south wing
and center where 965 pieces were found (unless all was
derived by scattering from Structure 31). The significance of
the "RW" bottle seal has been cited above.
Structure 53, the central connecting portion of the three-part
structure, was a deep central cellar from which only a few
artifacts are recorded. Eight pieces of roofing tile may suggest
a roof type. (A field photograph, No. 3132, shows sections
79
of masonry wall collapsed into the cellar — all English bond.)
Three white pipebowls date from 1675 to 1700 and 1 from
about 1750. Of the wine-bottle fragments recorded at a depth
of 4 to 5 feet (close to the cellar brick floor), at least a dozen
bottles are represented which date from the early 18th century
into early 19th century. Here was the best evidence that the
structure site was accumulating 18th-century refuse well through
that century, probably mostly Ambler House trash scattered
above in the fill that covered the precedent triple structure.
Little metal was recorded for Structure 53; however, one
candle snuffer was noted with the initials "PF."
Structure 138 is sufficiently known only to identify it as a
wing of a three-part structure. For this area the catalogue
yielded only a few significant types of artifacts. A fragment
of cutglass goblet and 2 pieces of enameled glass obviously
belong to Ambler House occupation long after the close of
the 17th century. However, a large quantity of pargetry —
674 pieces — was recorded, and enough could be located in the
collection to corroborate this evidence. This would seem a
large representation of ornamental plaster to have all come
fortuitously from Structure 31 cellar where a vast quantity of
this material was found, but since Structure 31 is only 40 feet
to the east of Structure 138 and 50,000 pieces of pargetry were
allegedly found in the former, derivation from Structure 31
wreckage is not impossible. The only other evidence of im-
portance from Structure 138-44 area consists of 72 white
pipestems suggesting datings from 1625 through 1750 — obvi-
ously a mixture, attested by the depth from which it comes
(surface to 1 foot). However, 3 white pipebowls in this col-
lection represent a dating of 1620 to 1650. A brown pipebowl
and 7 brown stems suggest dating in the first half of the 17th
century. Thus, it appears that the Structure 138 wing origi-
nated in, or at least overlay, an occupation dating from the
first half of the 17th century, although its use may have lasted
until the Ambler House was built.
In summary it may be said that Structure 44-53-138 logically
must have been destroyed by the time the encroaching Ambler
House main unit was constructed in the first quarter of the
18th century. Debris from the first half of the 18th century
would logically have been deposited in the fill which directly
overlay the ruins of the older structure. Due to lack of ade-
quate excavation and observation, the building date of Struc-
ture 44-53-138 cannot be determined, although artifacts from
the first half of the 17th century are mixed in the general fill
above this ruin. The probability is that Structure 44-53-138
was standing in the second half of the 17th century.
Artifacts of Structures 58 and 65
Structure 58 is recorded only by a ^-inch scale plan which
indicates a frame structure approximately 30 feet long east-
west by 20 feet wide, resting upon a brick foundation 13
inches thick. At the west end was a brick chimney foundation
HV2 feet wide by 6 feet deep (outside measurements), with
walls I8I/2 inches thick. The interior depth, front to back, was
4 feet 5 inches ; width, 8 feet 4 inches. There was no basement.
Artifacts associated by catalogue reference to the location of
Structure 58 were all from necessarily superficial deposits and,
therefore, inconclusive as evidence to be used in dating.
Sixty-nine fragments of roofing tile (not specified as to type
in the catalogue) indicated that the roof was probably of tile.
Of approximately 400 fragments of pottery described in the
catalogue as "miscellaneous," scarcely a representative sampling
could be located. However, 6 white pipebowls from the fill
above Structure 58 dated 1680 to 1720, and since no earlier
material was observed here, the inference is that the structure
probably dates in the last half of the 17th century, possibly
into the 18th. It may have served as an auxiliary structure to
Structure 38, 31, or 44-58-138. However, the presence at
this house site of a lead came and 100 pieces of window glass
(an additional 50 nearby) would indicate that it was of some
importance. Also associated were 96 pieces of pargetry, so
that Structure 58 may have been a distinct, unrelated residence.
No artifacts associated with Structure 65, the brick kiln,
could be located. However, it may be significant that two
fragments of a definite brown clay pipestem "waster," (old
Cat. No. 7279) covered with glaze drippings, were found near
Ditch 16, 60 feet to the north. This bit of evidence supports
indications that pipes were fired in local kilns (see Structures
27 and 127 artifacts).
Artifacts of Related Structures 59, 73, and 54
So far as artifacts are concerned, Structure 59, a small (14
by 14 feet) square building, probably frame on a brick founda-
tion (comparable to Structure 54) cannot be separated from
the older Structure 58, which it partially overlies. Archeo-
logical data could do no more than show that a considerable
quantity of roofing tile, possibly indicating the roof type, was
located in the area of both structures. Six white pipebowls of
1680-1720, 100 window fragments, thimbles, buttons, and
spoon parts also indicate this dating for the superficial fill.
The assumption that Structures 59 and 54 are related to the
later Ambler complex is based entirely upon orientation. No
artifact evidence can be offered from investigation thus far
made.
Structure 73 evidence is difficult to assess with respect to
artifacts, provenience, and significance. The artifacts from this
area are, principally on the basis of 10 pipebowl fragments,
related to the period 1680-1720. A relatively large amount
of roofing tile and ornamental plaster may be due to proximity
of Structure 31, rather than to the use of these materials in
Structure 73. (Ornamental plaster was also associated with
Structures 58 and 59 to the north.) However, were Structure 73
a late 18th- or early 19th-century structure, we should expect
to find a quantity of refuse so dated from the area. This is
not the case.
The relationship of Structure 73 to the brick kiln, Structure
65, at least is clear. Structure 73 is intrusive above the north-
west corner of the kiln. If Structure 73 had been longer than
80
wide — it is 18 feet on the one measurable side to the south —
it would have intruded upon Structure 58. However, since
it does not, the best guess is that Structure 73 was probably a
square structure, without a fireplace. The artifacts do not
suggest a use.
It is most probable that the drain from Structure 54 is
actually the undesignated brick drain extending 30 feet west-
ward from the northwest corner, and that Drain 56 made a
right-angle turn from Ditch 1 eastward and proceeded to
Structure 58, more likely a 17th-century structure. The bricks
from the foundations of both Structure 54 and 59 are not
described in the archeological plat of Lot B-69 dated Decem-
ber 9, 1935. Even so, it is reasonable to assign them both, in
default of conclusive evidence, to such uses as a washhouse,
milkhouse, or smokehouse, probably connected with the Ambler
establishment. (Structure 54 plat shows an apparent rectangular
floor recess bordered with brick, although the brick does not
extend over the entire floor. The whole structure was square,
16 by 16 feet.)
Structure 54 artifacts are limited to 6 white pipestems which
indicate from their apertures that they probably belong to the
first quarter of the 18th century. The drain (Structure 56)
led from Structure 54 and extended northward in Ditch 1.
Unfortunately, artifacts from this drain and from Ditch 1 are
difficult to locate in the collection, if they have been preserved.
However, inspection of the items in the catalogue identified
from Ditch 1 and the drain show that one "GL" bottle seal and
one "HH" bottle seal came, respectively, from these features.
In addition, 2 goblet fragments also came from each of the
features. Such evidence suggests late 17th-early 18th century
dating, at least for the refuse with which the ditch and drain
areas were filled. This, of course, does not date the two fea-
tures this early. The fill could easily contain artifacts far earlier
than the date of use for drain and ditch.
STRUCTURE 39
Structure 39 is a brick drain (Lots 94:103 and 95:103).
It was found in 1935, 1.2 to 2 feet below the 1935 surface.
The drain extended from just east of Structure 16 in a south-
westerly direction across Structure 40-72; across Structure 20,
a brick walk; and across Structure 21, a frame house, to the
bank of the James River. The drain cut across all of those
structures and is therefore subsequent to them. The ditch in
which the drain lay was 3 feet wide at the plowline and 2 feet
deep below the modern surface. In 1955 the drain was found
to end a few feet south of the N-9600 line.
The bricks of the drain are arranged with a line of headers
at the bottom of the ditch, the sides ranged as stringers on edge
slightly projecting below the base course to leave an opening
of 5 inches on the interior. Another line of headers tops the
drain.
It can only be supposed that this drain, the bricks for which
average 8l/2 by 4 by 2% inches, was built in the 18th century,
PLATE 41— Structure 39 Brick Drain
Detail of drain, cutting through the floor of Structure 21 in Lot
94:103. This drain also interrupts Structure 40-72 to the north. The
origin of the drain has not been found in any tests to date, but may
indicate a structure north of Structure 121 brick walkway.
probably out of salvaged materials. There is a record of
plaster on the sides of some bricks and they have been laid so
that the softest (yellowish) bricks are on the base course and
the harder bricks (red to purple) are at the sides and on top.
STRUCTURE 40-72
Structure 40-72 is a single unit in Lot 95:103 composed of
a cellar lined and floored with brick. It had a stairway to the
west and a fireplace based on the top of the undisturbed earth
81
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Jrs
PLATE 42— Structure 40-72
Structure 40-72 looking east at Structure 72 — a brick-paved cellar with cellar steps on the west (lower right). Beyond (center above) is the
subsequent brick drain, Structure 39, which crosses from northeast to southwest, and (top) the chimney foundation (Structure 40) originally at the
east end of the single frame house known as Structure 40-72. No brick footings for the walls were found except those of the cellar. (See Lot 95:103.)
which lies directly east of the cellar. The fireplace has been
designated Structure 40, and the cellar is 72. The two halves
of this single structure are divided by Structure 39, which is
a brick drain above the east wall of the cellar. This drain
extends from slightly south of the N-9600 line to the river,
a little less than 160 feet. It crosses Structures 20 and 21 at
the river's edge. The drain is subsequent to all of these
structures.
The cellar, Structure 72, measures 14 feet 8l/2 inches east-
west and 13 feet 2% inches north-south. It has a brick pave-
ment slightly more than 5 feet below the 1935 surface and
3V2 ^eet below the highest remaining wall remnant. The 1935
surface was 10 feet above mean low tide. The walls were of
English bond but included many brickbats. On the north,
west, and south, they averaged 9I/2 inches thick, but they were
only the width of a single brick, or slightly more than 4 inches.
This indicated that the east wall was not structural. Hence,
the building included Structure 40 beyond. All cellar walls
were surfaced with %6 of an inch plaster. A brick-lined
well-box was sunk into the floor against the north wall. This
box, possibly a wine cellar, was slightly over a foot deep and
20I/2 by 241/2 inches, inside dimensions. Fragments of 8 wine
bottles all indicative of the last quarter of the 17th century;
a white pipebowl and stem partly intact dating from 1700 to
1720; 3 pipestem fragments, 2 of which are %4 and one
%4 (1670-1720) ; and 2 shoe buckles of iron, all came from
the brick-lined box. The excavators believed that bricks fallen
from the wall above had broken the bottles. Streaks of char-
coal indicated a wood cover. This well fill most accurately
dates the terminal occupation of this structure.
82
.,
PLATE 43— Cooling Pit in Structure 12
Detail of a vault or wine cellar, sunk in the brick floor of the cellar.
This vault measures 24 inches square by 12 inches deep, and is similar
to other wine storage or cooling pits at Jamestown such as in the floors
of Structures 1, 123, and 125.
are recorded from the floor level. However, all indicate in
general the last quarter of the 17th century and the first quarter
of the 18th century. White tobacco stems range from %4 to
%4 in hole diameter, giving a range of 1670 to 1720. Of 45
pottery sherds recorded, only 1 piece of salt-glazed stoneware
and 1 English lead-glazed, light-colored earthenware sherd
could be identified from the collection at this time. Wine-
bottle fragments in the fill total 450. All of these represent
a range in shape from late 17th into the first quarter of the
18th century. Bodies were globular, but not excessively so,
and the necks were of moderate length. Split lath-marked
plaster fragments indicated plastered walls above, and 76
pieces of pargetry are mentioned in the catalogue, although
these were evidently not preserved and now cannot be located.
The presence of 100 flat roofing tiles suggests definitely a tile
roof to this structure. Yet some of the tiles have mortar
adhering and it is probable that the practice of using flat tiles
for leveling masonry courses was followed. One floor tile
and three Dutch tiles in the fill may be chance inclusions.
For Structure 40, we may assume definitely that this fireplace
foundation formed most of the east end of the house unit
represented by Structure 72 and Structure 40. The bricks of
both structures are of comparable size, averaging nearly 9
inches long, 4% inches wide, and 2l/2 inches thick. The color
range is the same, from orange (soft) to purple (very hard),
through shades of red. The dimensions of the fireplace
foundation are 7 feet 1% inches wide by 3 feet 3V2 inches
to 3 feet 8 inches deep at the respective arms, inside measure-
ments. The walls are between 1 foot 4 inches to 1 foot 6I/2
inches thick and are of English bond, 1 to 2 courses high. The
elevation of the base course is 9.35 feet, and the foundation
lies above the undisturbed soil contact. No cellar was ex-
cavated between the fireplace and Structure 72 by the original
builders. No artifacts are listed as associated with Structure 40.
The stairway shows evidence of 5 steps and was 4 feet
6 inches, inside width, with recesses in the side walls for
wooden treads. The bricks of the steps were laid up in
yellow sand, when excavated, and at that time it appeared that
no mortar had been used. (It is possible in some cases at
Jamestown that almost all lime has leached out of the poorer
mixtures of sandy mortar.) However, a large area of white
plaster covered the third step, and a conglomerate deposit of
clay loam, tiny fragments of brick, and oyster shell may have
been a kind of mortar used to patch the stairs.
Artifact evidence beneath the center of the stairs includes
3 white tobacco pipestem fragments, all %4 of an inch in
hole diameter, which suggests a dating around 1700. Three
wine-bottle fragments of indeterminate character at least be-
speak the last half of the 17th century and possibly the first
quarter of the 18th. A fragmentary iron window casement
lay on the bottom step.
Artifacts for the remainder of the cellar are recorded from
the top half and bottom half of the fill, and certain objects
STRUCTURES 41, 71-77, AND 74
A line of associated structural fragments, probably the re-
mains of 2 separate buildings, extended for 56 feet in a
northwest-southeast direction (Lots 95:102 and 95:103).
Structure 41
This was apparently the footing of a fireplace 10 feet 5V4
inches wide and approximately 5 feet 6 inches deep. Three
courses high in some places, this structure was made entirely
of brick fragments, no whole bricks having been recovered.
The bricks displayed the full range of color and hardness and
their width averaged 4%6 inches while the average thickness
was 2>y16 inches. This fireplace constituted one end of an
approximately 20-by-5 3-foot frame structure which was built
after, and over, the remains of a smaller building represented
by Structure 71-77.
83
PLATE 44— Structures 41,71, and 74
Structures 41, 71, and 14 looking eastward. The view shows the fragmentary remains of 2 structures with their chimney footings (Structures 41
and 71) in background. At the right is a trace of brick foundation (Structure 74), possibly the remnant of a structural support for the floor. The 2
frame houses rested on wood posts, represented by the square postholes in the floor of the trench (Lot 95:103).
Seven postholes delimited the northern edge of Structure 41.
But along the southern edge all except possibly one posthole
have been lost. The postholes, roughly 3 feet square, were
intrusive into some of the postholes of Structure 71-77.
The archeological drawings indicate that some artifacts were
recovered from the postholes, but it has been impossible to
identify any of them in the collection. A bale seal dated 1659
or 1689 was found at the northeast corner of the area of
Structure 41, 6 inches below the surface.
Structures 71-77
Structure 71 was the eastern end of a building represented
by Structures 71-77. This fireplace footing, smaller than
Structure 41, measured 9 feet I0y2 inches by 4 feet 4 inches.
It too was made up mostly of brick fragments, but 6 whole
bricks gave the average dimensions of 9 by 414 by 2l/8 inches.
Color and hardness were the same as for Structure 41. No
artifacts were recorded from this structure.
Structure 77 formed the western end of building 71-77.
This was still another fireplace footing and was 4 courses high.
It was approximately the size of Structure 71, measuring 9 feet
6 inches by 5 feet 1 inch. Most of the bricks were fragments,
but 1 complete brick measured 9 by 4l/2 by 2% inches. No
other brick analysis was made. Structure 71-77 was a frame
building approximately 18 by 40 feet. Five postholes, approxi-
mately 4 by 3 feet, and 7 feet apart, marked the northern wall.
No postholes were apparent for the southern wall. As noted
above, several of the postholes were cut by those of Struc-
ture 41.
Fortunately, the artifact collection from Structure 77 is avail-
able. Provenience was kept for 2 levels — 0 to 1 foot and l]/2
to 2 feet.
84
PLATE 45 — Structures 41 and 11 — Two Chimney Foundations
Structures 41 and 71 — two chimney foundations in Lot 95:103, looking southwest.
Earthenware: The lower level contained 12 flat roofing
tile fragments and 1 pantile fragment. Fifty-one white clay
pipestems from the 0-1 foot level indicate 1650-80, and 1
white pipebowl is of the period 1650-75. Sixty white pipe-
stems from the lower level would date from 1620-50, and 1
white bowl dates from the second quarter of the century.
Both local and English lead-glazed earthenware pottery, made
after 1640, is present in the lower level. Other earthenware
sherds present were: In the upper level, 1 sherd of Lisbon
majolica (first quarter), 1 sherd of English marbled slipware
(second quarter), and 1 sherd of Italian sgraffito (1625-60) ;
and in the lower level, 1 sherd of English sgraffito (1640-
1700).
Delftware: Each level contained 8 sherds of English-
Dutch blue-on-white delftware and 2 sherds of English white
delft.
Stoneware: The upper level contained 10 sherds of Ger-
man salt-glazed stoneware and 1 sherd of English, white, salt-
glazed stoneware (1740-80). The ll/2-to-2-foot level had 1
sherd of German blue-on-gray stoneware.
Porcelain: The 0-1 foot level had 2 sherds of Chinese
porcelain.
Glass: Nine fragments of gin bottles were recovered from
the lower level along with 58 wine-bottle fragments, including
1 bottle neck from the period 1680-1700.
Miscellaneous: Other artifacts recovered included a brass
clasp, a brass hasp and tuck, an unidentified brass object, 3
pieces of miscellaneous iron, a piece of slate, and a nodule of
English flint.
Structure 74
A fragment of a brick pavement, Structure 74, spread irreg-
ularly over an area some 14 feet long and 10 feet wide approxi-
mately midway between Structure 71 and Structure 77. It may
well have been the remains of the floor of Structure 71-77.
There is good evidence of burning in the area, so we may
85
surmise that the earlier building on this site was destroyed by
fire. No artifacts were recorded or measured drawings made
of Structure 74.
Structure 71-77 was probably built and occupied during the
second quarter of the 17th century, as evidenced by the artifact
collection from Structure 77. The similarity of the structural
features would indicate that 41 replaced 71-77 soon after the
latter's destruction by fire, but it is difficult to say when Struc-
ture 41 was built over it.
STRUCTURES 42, 43, AND 120
Structures 42 and 43 lie adjacent to each other and to
Structure 120 in the northwestern corner of Lot 94:104. The
first 2 were excavated in the autumn of 1935 by a Civilian
Conservation Corps foreman, T. C. Miller. His notes are all
that remain from the original excavation except for certain
artifacts traceable to this location in the old catalogue. Structure
120 was excavated in 1955 at which time Structures 43 and 42
were reexcavated in order to establish a relationship, if pos-
sible, between the 3 structures. However, this objective was
not met.
Structure 43, when reexcavated, proved to be a rather mas-
sive, brick masonry foundation suggesting a chimney or chim-
ney end of a house. The chimney back measured 11 feet
across and had an unbonded projection 4.3 feet long extending
midway 1.2 feet from the main wall. Wing projections extend
nearly 4 feet northward — away from the river. The inside of
the problematical chimney base measured 7.6 feet wide and
5.8 feet deep front to back. The rear projection was offset by
1.2 feet indentation in the back of the chimney interior. The
masonry was a maximum of 5 courses high in 1935 (4 in
1955). The top course was 11 inches below the surface of
the ground. The bricks were characteristically orange-red with
an occasional brick fired to purple-blue when glazed. Unless
glazed, the texture was friable and soft. The bricks ranged
from 8I/4 to 9l/g inches long, from 4 to 4% inches wide, and
from 2 to 2% inches thick, with the average 8l/2 by 4% by
2I/4 inches. Although this is a considerable size range, it is
not beyond that for bricks made in the early 17th-century
brick kiln, Structure 127.
Structure 42 could not be identified from the entry on the
base map of 1941, which in turn was unlike the note by T. C.
Miller of 1935. However, what its assumed to be Structure 42
or a related structure appeared as a single line of half-bricks,
1 brick deep, at a depth of about 10 inches, in a rough U-shape
with the arms oriented eastward.
Structure 120 was a single wall foundation of brick on a
soldier course of headers on edge and some brick scraps, over-
lain by traces of a second course evidently laid in English
bond. The length was 28.5 feet, the average width, 1.3 feet.
Unfortunately, the bricks of this structure were not measured
at the time of excavation, nor were those of Structure 42 when
it was reexcavated. Therefore, no comparison can be made
regarding sizes.
From a structural standpoint, it is difficult to regard these
three structures as representing a single unit, and it seems
more likely that they represent a fortuitous association.
Artifacts
No diagnostic artifacts were found associated with Structure
120, and none appear in the catalogue associated with Structure
42. However, for Structure 43 and the immediate vicinity,
the old catalogue does offer considerable associated artifact
evidence. Structure 43 artifacts are uniform in type with
those from Lot 94:104 at large (old Lot 87) in that they
represent the first half of the 18th century. Clay pipes for this
structure area, which remained in the collection (only a frac-
tion of those listed in the old catalog), included only 1 white
bowl which could be as early as third-quarter 17th century.
The rest represented the period 1680-1740. One wine bottle
(J-7561) was reconstructed from a number of wine-bottle
fragments, and clearly represents 1680-1700 dating. The
bottle was well-buried, from 1 foot 10 inches to 3 feet 6
inches. Other artifacts included 3 roofing tiles, 1 Dutch brick,
some lead cames, and a brass button. The pottery evidence
was not extracted from the collection in time for this report.
STRUCTURE 45
Structure 45 was clearly a kitchen associated with Structure
19A or 19B, or both. Its structural identification was a brick
masonry foundation for a fireplace and probable oven, side by
side, at the north end and exactly in line with the north wall
of Structure 19 A. A series of postholes indicated that the
remainder of Structure 45 was entirely frame. Two of the
postholes retained traces of the mold of posts set in them. The
indicated dimensions of the whole house were 18 feet east- west
and 28 feet north-south. The masonry was laid 6 inches into
undisturbed clay with a maximum of 6 courses. The bond
was English.
Fireplace interior dimensions are 9 feet 7 inches wide by
3 feet 10 inches from front to back; interior dimensions of the
oven adjoining to the east are 3 feet by 3 feet 6 inches. The
bricks of Structure 45 average 2i%2 by 4 by 82%2 inches.
Thus they are comparable in thickness and length to bricks of
the old masonry of Structure 19A. In width they are com-
parable to the brick of the newer masonry of Structure 19A.
The bricks of 19B are slightly wider and longer than those
of all portions of 19A and Structure 45. This suggests that
Structure 45 was probably built while Structure 19A was in
use, unless it was built later from bricks salvaged from that
structure. There is no clear evidence to indicate the type of
roof furnished Structure 45, except the pantiles present in the
general area, which are assumed to have been used on Struc-
ture 19B.
86
1
IP. ' ii.-VJ
fitt I i i
«.:
iPS; a
PLATE 46 — Structure 45 — North Wall and Presumed Fireplace
Structure 45 — north wall and presumed fireplace foundation, viewed from the west. This structure, directly east of Structure 19, is believed to
have been a kitchen attached to that building, a possible tavern. The other walls of Structure 45 were presumably of wood (Lot 99:101).
Artifact evidence relative to the dating of Structure 45 is
limited almost exclusively to clay tobacco pipes and wine
bottles; both clearly indicate last quarter of the 17th century,
and perhaps a portion of the third quarter. No 18th-century
evidence was noted here.
A few wrought-iron objects were associated with Structure
45. Half of an ornamental H hinge (Cat. No. 1655) or pos-
sibly a strap hinge with side members, 5% inches long, was
found in the fill of one of the footing holes 20 inches below
the surface. A fragment of a butterfly hinge (Cat. No. 33)
and a very small pintle hinge (Cat. No. 51) were found in the
vicinity, but not in direct association with the structure.
Significant features associated with Structures 19A, 19B,
and Structure 45 include: 2 wells, Nos. 4 and 11, described in
detail elsewhere; 4 ditches, Nos. 17, 18, 20, and 21; and a
refuse deposit, unnumbered but described by the original ex-
cavators as lying directly south of Structure 45 and east of the
midsection of Structure 19B. There is a clear inference from
the excavation records that Structure 19B was erected subse-
quent to Ditch 20 and probably also subsequent to Ditch 21
which closely parallels Ditch 20 to the east. Likewise, Struc-
tures 19 A, 19B, and 45 interrupt Ditch 18. Such scanty
artifact evidence as we have concerning these suggests third-
quarter 17th century for Ditch 18. It is impossible, however,
to date any of the 4 ditches confidently, and the only relative
observation is their relation to the construction of Structures
19A and 19B.
Of the two wells, the earlier one is undoubtedly Well 11,
87
PLATE 47— Structure 46 Lime Kiln
This lime kiln is viewed from the charging end with the brick lining exposed inside the pit dug to receive it. Over the kiln firing chamber, iron
hoops (all collapsed but one) originally supported the charge of oyster shells. The kiln was located 100 feet down the shore from the lime kiln,
Structure 47, and within 20 feet of the west wall of the house, Structure 21 (Lot 94:103).
uncased (or wooden casing obliterated) with a barrel at the
bottom. The lower levels of this well are definitely third-
quarter 17th century. The well probably served Structure 19 A.
Well 4, which was brick-cased in header bond, is definitely
last-quarter 17th century — by wine bottle and tobacco pipe
evidence. We may assume that it served Structure 19B and
perhaps Structure 45. Two pintles and a strap hinge and
pintle found in Well 4 are not diagnostic except as 17th
century.
A shallow but definite refuse deposit of irregular shape,
about 8 feet long and 6 feet maximum width, lay 5 feet south
of Structure 45 and 6 feet east of Structure 19B. Refuse from
this depression included an interesting wrought-iron butterfly
hinge, an iron key, 2 lead cames, 55 window-quarrel frag-
ments, 6 pantiles, and some paving-tile fragments. Tobacco
pipe evidence includes 1 bowl initialled "LE" and places this
pit in the last quarter of the 17th century.
STRUCTURES 46, 47, AND 88: LIME KILNS
Worth Bailey has published a definitive and scholarly descrip-
tive analysis of Structures 46 and 47, the closely associated
lime kilns on the 1935 riverbank (Lots 94:103 and 95:102,
respectively). Therefore the reader is directed to this refer-
ence (Bailey, 1938a) and only a summary is offered here.
The archeological crews originally excavated Structures 46
and 47 and began tentative field sketches in 1935 but never
completed them. Fred P. Harris made a fairly complete sketch
of Structure 47 from notes of F. Farthing, an engineering aide.
88
PLATE 48— Structure 47 Lime Kiln
This lime kiln in Lot 95:102 had an outline like a loop hinge. Here the kiln is seen with the brick lining indicated. The kiln was located nearly
on the bank of the James River at the time of its discovery (1934).
n November 1936, Carl F. Miller reexcavated Structure 46 and
C. Harrington reexcavated Structure 47. Both men made
detailed drawings of the respective kilns. From these data
Worth Bailey wrote his excellent interpretation.
Structure 46 kiln was located in an oval pit and consisted of
i remnant of brick masonry wall, the extant top of which was
7.2 feet below the 1936 surface (Elevation 10.31 feet above
nean low tide). Originally the top of the kiln had been
ipproximately 5.5 feet below the surface. Although the kiln
tself lay almost on the shore scarp in 1935, the kiln mouth
)pened eastward toward Structure 21 and away from the shore.
\n access for fueling the kiln was present but apparently quite
imited, the space being only 4.5 feet from opening to pit wall.
The overall length of the kiln was 8.5 feet and the width,
i feet. The walls average 8.5 feet wide, and were made up of
lalf bricks, for the most part. The interior firing chamber was
!.2 feet wide and extended the whole length of the kiln.
There was no brick wall at the back. Above the firing chamber
4 iron hoops had been embedded transversely in the masonry
walls and iron bars had been laid across them longitudinally
to support the charges. Both back and floor were fire-burned
clay, and within the chamber was a heterogeneous mass of
loam, brick-dust, and burned oyster shells, interspersed with
lime, charcoal, and fragments of coal.
Structure 47 kiln was oriented with its opening to the river
scarp of 1935 which made it appear to be a hillside kiln at
that time. However, the probability is that it was originally
in a pit, an undetermined distance from the shore in the days
of its operation. The fire area was oval, 5 courses maximum
height, lined with a single course of stringers and half bricks,
reinforced to a width of 2 feet at the end of the kiln, and 5
feet beneath the ground surface of 1936. The kiln bottom was
a little less than 5 feet below the 1936 ground surface which
was 7.5 feet above mean low tide. The inside axes of the
89
fire chamber measured 4 and 2 feet respectively. The mouth
opening was constricted to 10 inches. Above the brickwork
the burned clay sides of the kiln tapered upward. In this
simpler kiln, says Bailey, "in conformity with English precedent,
a fire was built on the floor beneath a rough arch of large
stones or oyster rock so constructed as to leave sufficient
passage for air. A charge of shells was heaped on this support
until the shaft was completely filled, the intervals between the
stones and shells forming flues through which the heat
ascended."
Bailey points out that such a kiln would have been operated
by continuing firing until the shells were completely calcined,
after which the kiln was allowed to cool spontaneously and
the burnt lime removed. This was a delicate operation, re-
quiring experience and care that the charge was not ruined by
uneven heating, since it could not be heated twice. Bailey
thinks that both kilns used coal, as evidenced by traces of that
fuel in the fills. This was already the practice in Staffordshire
probably since the Tudor period. Wood could have been —
and doubtless was — also used. The kiln with the ironwork
grates was charged in alternate layers of oyster shells and fuel,
more layers of fuel and shells being added as the calcined lime
accumulated in the firebox. The evidence of admixture of
carbonaceous and ash contamination in the calcined lime and
subsequent mortar mixtures in 17th-century masonry is conspic-
uous. In the case of the simpler kiln of Structure 47, a dry
masonry vault supported the alternate charges. After the shells
had burned, the arch was broken down, the product removed,
and the supply of fuel and shells renewed from the top.
An interesting possibility of the use of storage areas is indi-
cated by "significant layers of hard packed soil containing
numerous complete shells" nearby. To Bailey this suggested
the classical practice of storing thoroughly slaked lime (the
water being readily accessible) in pits covered with sand to
prevent hardening in the air.
Lee S. Trainer, Chief Engineer of the National Lime Asso-
ciation, Washington, D.C. made the following analysis for
Bailey in 1936:
Table 1 — Analysis of Lime from Structure 47
SiO 8.1
R202 1.1
CaO" 49.9
MgO 0.4
SOs 0.2
CO., 36.6
H,0 (Free) 0.6
H20 (combined) and organic matter 2.8
99.7
CaCO, 83.2
CaOH2 4.2
MgOH 0.5
CaSO-2H,0 0.3
Artifacts for Structure 47 are unknown. However, Structure
46 kiln yielded a slate flagstone and 2 pieces of roofing slate,
1 of which was in the kiln wall. Associated with the fill at a
depth of 6 feet to 6 feet 8 inches was a white pipebowl of the
1680-1720 period in type. Higher in the fill from 1 foot,
3 inches to 4 feet, 11 white bowls were all dated about 1700-
1720. Five large, brown, locally made bowls were indetermi-
nate but presumably about 1700-1720.
Bailey's conclusion (p. 11) is quoted here verbatim:
The evidence regarding the preparation of lime so far uncovered al
Jamestown (1938), points to the end of the 17th century as a period of
trial and experimentation with newer methods and techniques. It
marked in addition the stage of gradual adaptation of ancient craft tradi-
tions to the materials and requirements induced by local conditions
Attempts to forward continuous operation represent the primary ap-
proach to an efficiency of operation, rendered fully possible by the me-
chanical accomplishments of the nineteenth century. The free-standing
kiln of the flare type evolved at Jamestown seems to have been th<
prototype of the field kiln destined to reappear in later years in answei
to the needs of the rapidly expanding building activities of a new na
tion. ... In all probability field kilns were often set up convenient tc
brick kilns enabling both to be fired under the same supervision. Frorr
this point it was but an easy transition to the actual consolidation of th<
two and there is good reason to suspect the employment of this methoc
of lime making in Tidewater Virginia during the succeeding century.
Strikingly enough, this observation is freshly illuminated by
evidence that the kiln, Structure 27, which Bailey regarded as
a lime kiln of brick on the surface, was undoubtedly used a«
well, if not exclusively, for pottery firing (see Structure 27)
The following notes on dual use of Structure 88 kiln are alsc
relevant. So are observations on Structure 111, Kiln A, where
slaked lime from oyster shells and rock with glaze marks were
both found. At Structure 127, brick kiln, and at Structure 27
as well, clay pipes may have been fired.
Structure 88 was found and recorded on plats by Harringtor.
in 1940. It was referred to, but not described, as a lime kiln
This is an interesting example of a kiln which may have hac
a dual purpose as a lime-burning and pottery-firing device
The structure is located on the southern edge of Lot 96:106 —
50 feet west of Structure 100 and 100 feet east of Structun
116. In outline this kiln was flask-shaped or bulbous at th<
east end, terminating at the back with a brick wall, and con-
stricted at its western access which also terminated in a brick
threshold. The kiln was set in a scorched pit approximatelj
4 feet below the 1940 surface (10.8 feet above mean low
tide). It was approximately 11 feet long, 4 feet wide, and the
pit in front of the firing access was 11.5 feet long. The brick;
were a maximum of 4 courses high, those at the rear beinf
stringers of partial bricks. Those of the access were header."
on edge.
Happily, the collection of artifacts from this kiln had beer
kept intact. The collection was examined and certain signifi
cant facts were immediately apparent. First, a quantity ol
burned oyster shell in masses of slaked and hardened lime wai
recovered. The bricks of the kiln included many fragments oi
90
PLATE 49 — Structure 88 Lime Kiln
The lime kiln in Lot 96:106, from the west. The view shows the arched access for firing, the draft closure of brick, and the kiln itself beyond.
The kiln was located south of the west wing of the Ambler House and west of Structure 100. Oyster shells were burned here.
both regular bricks and coping bricks, all of soft texture, and
a quantity of fragmentary flat roofing tiles of unused appear-
ance. There were also a number of square- or wedge-shaped
floor tile fragments. These had been covered on one surface
with dark greenish-brown lead glaze which had run down over
the sides in places and even over fractured surfaces. Artifacts
from the fill included early 17th-century, white clay-pipe frag-
ments, notably a complete bowl of the 1620-40 period. There
were some gin-bottle fragments, but no wine-bottle evidence.
In striking contrast, the more superficial deposits in the area
included typical 18th- and 19th-century detritus from the
Ambler House, the west wing of which was located 50 feet
north of the kiln.
Thus, the artifact evidence suggests strongly that Structure
88 may have been used both for lime burning and pottery
firing. The latter was further attested by very fresh- appearing
sherds of typical locally made red earthenware pots, glazed on
the interior, with finger-marked fillets of clay around the neck.
The dating is very possibly early in the 17th century, before
1640.
STRUCTURE 49
Structure 49 lay in the eastern edge of Lot 98:100, 40 feet
east of the fireplace of Structure 55. The nature and purpose
of this brick remnant is not certain. However, its relationship
to Structure 55 is definitely reminiscent of Structures 71 and
77 which were undoubtedly the respective east and west end
fireplaces of the same frame structure. In the case of Structures
49-55, the distance of 40 feet between the 2 brick remnants
91
would seem quite appropriate for the length of such a house
unit. (The orientation of the respective units in Lot 98:100
cannot be determined definitely from the original notes, except
that both are approximately north-south on the long axis of
each remnant.) The slightly askew placement of Structure 49
on the base map is possibly misleading.
No mortar was used in laying the bricks of Structure 49,
although some mortar, which had been made of fine oyster-shell
lime and sand, adhered to the bricks. This indicated that the
bricks had been salvaged from previous use and laid dry.
Bricks were described as salmon-red to purple, burned hard,
and with some glazed headers. Since the bricks were probably
salvaged, the absence of softer salmon-colored examples is
logical. In size, the bricks range from 8% by 4 by 2 Yi inches
to 9x/4 by 41/2 by 2]/2 inches, the average being 9 by 4% by
2%. The only original dimension observable on Structure 49
was the width — 23V2 inches. The extant length of the pre-
sumed backwall was 5 feet HV2 inches at the time of excava-
tion, but it was at least 10 feet originally, if proportionate to
the width of the wall. The bond was English.
The only inference to be derived from artifacts collected
from the entire lot is that Structures 23, 49, and 55 are all late
17th century. (See section on Structure 23.)
STRUCTURE 55
Structure 55 (Lot 98:100) is a fireplace remnant excavated
originally in 1934. It has been described as a single course
of brick resting on the older humus zone 8 inches above the
undisturbed clay. No brick fragments were observed in this
mixture of loam and sandy clay, and it can be presumed that
no brick structure had occupied the ground prior to the erection
of Structure 55. The fireplace was oriented to open to the
east and the remnant measured 8 feet 11 inches north-south
along the back wall, although sufficient pattern remained in
the brick to show that the original overall measurement had
been approximately 9 feet 3 inches. The side walls of the
fireplace are only remnants, and the original depth from front
to back could not be determined. However, the interior width
of the fireplace was 6 feet 6 inches. The back wall was 141/4
inches thick, or 1 stretcher and 1 header; the sides were ap-
proximately the same thickness.
The detailed notations on Structure 55 may be summarized
as follows: Bricks were the same size, color, texture, and hard-
ness as those of "Structure 23" (possibly a ditch with brick
debris on top). The bricks ranged from salmon-colored and
soft through the reds to purple and very hard, with some
glazed headers. Largest brick was 9^4 by 4% by 25/g inches —
almost 18th century; the smallest, 8% by 4]/4 by 2^ ; average,
9 by 41/j by 2]/4. The mortar was white, made of well-burned
oyster shell and clean sand.
Unfortunately, the original excavators of 1934 made no ob-
servations of features in the earth surrounding Structure 55.
When the area was resurveyed in 1936, and additional notations
recorded, the places where postholes of a frame superstructure
may have existed were obliterated. Thus, we surmise that
Structure 55, like Structures 22, 41, and 116, was a frame
house on post footings set in postholes, with a brick chimney.
Although no artifacts were recorded as associated with this
structure, the data for Lot 98:100 has been summarized under
Structure 23. The conclusion is that all 3 structures in this
lot — Nos. 23, 49, and 55 — are late 17th century.
STRUCTURES 50, 51, AND 52
Structures 50, 51, and 52 (all Lot 94:104) were located in
1935 but were never completely excavated or annotated. The
only artifact data are those which can be compiled from lot and
square locations entered in the old catalogue book, and these
will be summarized.
Structure 50 appears to have been a brick footing fragment
in an L-shape, representing the northwest corner of a probable
frame structure. The long arm of the L, approximately north-
south, was traced for 20 feet until it was cut by the excavation
for the riprap shore protection. Presumably this arm had
extended some additional distance south or riverward. The
short arm of the "L" was 9 feet long and extended westward,
parallel with the shore. Structure 50 was apparently oriented
upon the shore, as were all the other buildings found within
100 feet of the seawall, from Structure 26 to Structure 125.
Artifacts from the immediate vicinity of Structure 50 are
exceedingly numerous in the old catalogue, relatively speaking.
They range from the sod zone to a maximum of 5 feet on the
site of the structure itself. The 5 -foot depth suggests either
that the foundation may have had considerable depth or that
it had been built on a riverward slope. The latter is indicated
by a section Lot 87 drawing by F. P. Parris dated October 8,
1935. The fill of this indicated slope is listed in the drawing
as consisting of clay, sand, bricks, charcoal, plaster, and a few
oyster shells. The slope appears to rise just before it is cut by
the riprap excavation. The most significant artifacts are the
clay pipes. An excellent sampling of over 150 specimens of
white and brown stems and bowls survives in the collection.
The 38 white pipebowls are all representative of 1700-40
except 2, which may be as early as 1680. Locally made, brown
pipebowls, 10 in number, were all made in molds and were
well finished; they were presumably of the post-1700 dating
comparable to the white bowls. No survey was attempted of
the many brown and white stem fragments.
Other ceramic fragments from this vicinity include English
slipwares and range through the second half of the 17th century
past the second half of the 18th. A small Lambeth delftware
bowl (J-7499), early to middle 1600's, and a coarse-tempered,
North Devon milk pan (J-7478) were close by. Over 40
roofing tiles and a Dutch brick were present. A plaster orna-
ment lay between Structure 50 and Structure 21.
Metal objects, buckles, wire, thimble, a pierced lead ball, a
possible shoemaker's last of iron, lead cames, a brass lockplate,
92
a pewter flask neck of the screw type, pewter spoon handle and
a pewter spoon bowl are listed for the Structure 50 vicinity.
An iron hoe is listed at a depth of 4 feet 3 inches within the
foundation itself. No less than 307 pins and pieces of wire
were found at the site. Few glass fragments seem to have
been found here, but among them are an "HG" (Henry
Gawler?) bottle seal and 4 goblet fragments beside some mis-
cellaneous and unspecified glass pieces.
Thus Structure 50 lay in an area of concentrated refuse rang-
ing from 1650 to 1750, with the majority of objects early 18th
century, although nothing definitive can be said about the struc-
ture itself.
Structure 51 appears to have been a chimney foundation of
brick masonry located with the back to the river, the opening
to the north. Presumably the remainder of the house was
frame. Well 5, a brick-cased structure, was located 10 feet
southeast of the southeast corner of this fireplace.
Artifacts on the site of Structure 51 and nearby are fairly
diagnostic of age. In the present collection, 6 white bowls
were observed to be in the 1700-1740 range. A tripod pot
of earthenware (J-7308) and a small jug (J-7509), probably
Lambeth delftware of 1690, were found nearby. The earthen-
ware pot was 5 inches high and covered inside with green lead
glaze. Other related objects were a pewter spoon bowl, brass
buckle, brass pot leg, wire and pins of brass, and a goblet
fragment.
Structure 52 was only a 5 -foot-long remnant of brick wall,
probably the footing of a frame structure. The wall was
parallel with the shore. Nothing more is known of this
structure except for a few artifacts from the vicinity. These
include early 18th-century white clay pipes and a few brown
stem fragments, a Dutch brick, a roofing tile, a brass buckle,
button, and thimble.
STRUCTURES 60, 62, 63, AND 68
Structures 60, 62, and 68 (Lot 96:100 and 96:101) were
incompletely excavated because they lay, for the most part,
beneath the road to the ferry slip and the shore road leading
east of the original temporary museum located a short distance
to the west of the building group. The chief remaining field
reference is a plan of the excavation of part of Lot B-61 pre-
pared by F. P. Parris from engineering data by F. G. Farthing
and notes of T. C. Miller, foreman in charge of the crew which
did the excavating. (Lots B-61 and 96:101 are coincident
roughly. )
Although indicated on the base map, Structure 63 is almost
certainly not a unit, nor is there adequate evidence for con-
sidering the southern feature to have been a square of masonry.
Parris has fully recorded this structure in a field sheet render-
ing which shows the northernmost unit to be 7.3 feet east-west
by 6.5 feet north-south. This is a footing of 2 courses, 1 foot
or a header and a stringer wide, of English bond. The top
of the masonry was at an elevation of 10.02 feet above mean
low tide or 0.5 feet below the surface of 1935. Bricks were
salmon to purple, soft to very hard, and ranged from 8% to
9 inches long, 4y4 to 4l/2 inches wide, and 2 to 2% inches
thick, the average being 8]/2 by 4l/4 by 214 inches.
The middle feature of Structure 63 was a single fragment of
a masonry wall of 2 courses in English bond, 1 foot wide and
3V2 feet l°ng- This fragment extends north-south, but not
in exact alinement with either the northern or southern features
of Structure 63. An irregular line of brickbats which may or
may not have been the remains of a wall extended to the north
and east of this middle fragment. The elevation of the top of
the middle feature bricks was 10.5 feet above mean low tide,
comparable to that of the northern portion.
The southern feature of Structure 63 as shown on Parris'
detailed rendering is somewhat more suggestive of a rectangular
structure, but the shape is conjectural. The one intact side is
6l/2 feet long, iy2 feet wide, and is composed of brick halves
and fragments laid in 2 courses. The bricks of the middle
and southern features are in the same range of size and color
as those of the northern feature.
The only artifacts noted in the catalogue for the Structure
63 area are 31 tile fragments, a brass vessel handle, and 56
pipe fragments.
The only purpose for these structural unit features would
seem to be outhouses, such as a smokehouse and a milkhouse.
Structure 60 appears to be the northeast corner of a brick
foundation for a frame house. More evidence may exist be-
neath the former ferry-slip road. Of the limited number of
artifacts associated with this tiny spot, it may be significant that
50 roofing tiles, 5 tile fragments (unspecified), and about 250
bottle-glass fragments are recorded. It also may be significant
that Structure 60 was situated approximately midway between
Wells 6 and 7. Well 6 was not excavated, but Well 7 fill
had white clay-pipe evidence indicating 1680-1720. Four
white pipebowls from the location of Structure 60, at a depth
of 1 to 11/2 feet, date from 1700 to 1720. Thus the evidence
here and that at Well 7 are comparable in date.
Structure 62 is only approximately located on the lot plan
and no details are shown. A frame structure on a brick foun-
dation oriented with the river and close to Well 6 is indicated.
The only artifacts associated with Structure 62 in the old cata-
logue were 1 5 pipe fragments.
Structure 68 — 10 feet east of Structure 62 — is indicated only
by a course of brick which also extends under the 1935 road.
The northern arm of the "L" of the structure's northwest corner
appears to have been 8 inches wide, or 1 header, approximately.
The western arm is ll/2 bricks or 1 foot wide. Eight items of
glass and pipe fragments were found, but were not significant.
STRUCTURE 67
This structure (Lot 96:99), like Structure 28, was a wall
remnant which extended beneath the ferry approach road. For
93
this reason the structure was incompletely explored in 1934.
Since the road was in service until 1957, no opportunity pre-
sented itself to complete the investigation and trace out the
wall, if more of it exists.
A plat of the lot shows Structure 67 as a narrow 1 -course
wall, 1 header-brick wide (estimated 9 inches), running a little
east of south, 18 feet north of Structure 26. The top of the
masonry was 9.5 to 9.9 feet above mean low tide or 1.3 feet
below the surface of the ground. The bricks were set about 2
inches into the top of the undisturbed clay. The masonry is
not described in the original notes and brick size was not
recorded on the plat.
Some specific data exist in the records of 1934-35 which
permitted study of a collection of ceramic objects found in the
10-foot square in which Structure 67 occurred. The 24 white
pipestem fragments appear to range chiefly in the second half
of the 17th century. Three of 6 pipebowls date from 1650
to 1675 and 3 from 1675 to 1700. Four brown stems were
from this square. The remainder of the evidence consists of
3 blue-on-white delftware fragments and 2 local, lead-glazed
sherds.
Thus we may conclude, tentatively, that this was probably
a light-brick footing for a frame building of the second half
of the 17th century.
STRUCTURES 91, 92, 93, AND 95
Structures 91, 92, and 93 designate brick footings for 3
tombstones in the Travis Graveyard, located in Lot 81:182.
These footings were excavated and a portion of the Travis
Graveyard was tested by J. C. Harrington in 1938. Structure
91 footing was restored and the flat tombstone of Edward
Travis, dated 1700, was reset. The same restoration was done
for Structure 93 (Susanna Travis, dated 1761). In general,
the Travis tract is l1/^ miles east of the church.
Structure 95 was not a vault, but a rough lining for a grave.
No attempt was made to find and excavate the site of the
Travis House. This house burned in 1857, according to a
Miss Armistead of Williamsburg, elderly descendant of the
Travis family. However, Forman says that the Travis House
burned before 1816 (Forman, 1938, p. 325). A clipping from
the Richmond Times Dispatch of May 25, 1922, quoting that
paper as of 100 years ago, printed an article datelined James-
town, May 25, 1822. The reporter, after a day of oratory and
festival honoring the "Virginiad" of that year, observed,
"Heavens! Just as I am writing this, the old brick building be-
longing to Colonel Travis' estate has taken fire and the roof is
already in a blaze. It was an uninhabitable ruin, to be sure,
but I am sorry, as it is one of the few remaining monuments
of antiquity here, to see it disappearing from the scene."
Apparently, the Travis house burned as frequently as the
Ambler House, but was not as reliably reported.
STRUCTURE 100
Structure 100 in Lot 95:107 was excavated by archeologist
Conrad B. Bentzen under the direction of J. C. Harrington in
1940. Fortunately, the plan drawings for this very important
structure, together with artifacts left associated in the collection
by square and depth, provide accurate and reliable data for
description. Structure 100 is important especially because it is
the oldest building in the Page (or Wyatt) tract for which we
have any reliable archeological data.
The only structural evidence for No. 100 was the assumed
north wall consisting of 8 to 9 courses of English-bond brick
masonry, spread 2 to 3 inches on the south (interior) side of
the base. The wall above the spread footing was normally a
little in excess of 8 inches thick, or the length of a single
header, indicating that the structure above was essentially frame.
The exterior or north side of the wall had evidence of 3 small
buttresses of masonry placed at 6-foot intervals. These con-
sisted of simple 8l/2-inch-square columns mortared but not
bonded to the wall. In the center of the wall was a stair wall
inset extending south, or inside of the structure, a distance of
4 feet overall. The stair wall was 5.8 feet wide, outside
measurement. The inside dimensions of the stair wall inset
were 4 feet wide by 4 feet deep, front to back. The stair wall
was of the same thickness as the main wall, but lacked spread
footing except for a line of stringers on edge on the north
side of the inset wall. A small area had been cut out of the
east stair wall after the wall had been built and was presumably
intended as a footing for a post. No description of the mortar
was left.
The north wall remnant of Structure 100 was 34.8 feet long,
including the stair wall inset. The west end was fragmentary
and possibly not the original terminus of the wall. The east
end, however, was finished with closure bricks both inside and
out, and was out of plumb, the end brick at the top being an
inch to the east beyond the base. Inasmuch as the butt-joint
was used in connecting the stair walls and the outside wall of
the foundation, it may be supposed that a butt-joint could have
joined the north wall with the east wall, if an east wall origin-
ally existed. However, the only evidence of the east and west
walls of Structure 100 are trench outlines and fill. The east
trench was 1.8 feet wide at the top (visible 1.5 feet below the
surface at elevation 11.1 above mean low tide) and 1.5 feet
wide at the squared and leveled bottom. The bottom was
3.2 feet from the surface at an elevation of 9-5 feet. The
top of the trench was well-buried beneath the old topsoil.
Thus, this squared trench would seem definitely to have been
intended for a masonry footing. The footing either was never
laid, or if it existed, was removed entirely, possibly for brick
salvage. At the northeast corner the trench makes a westward
bend to join the masonry wall. This east trench was traced
from the northeast corner for approximately 33 feet to the esti-
mated southern corner.
Unfortunately, data in the field notes exist only for a minor
94
PLATE 50— Structure 100
Structure 100 looking north toward the presumed north wall of a rectangular frame structure (in Lot 95:107) in front of the Ambler House
(background).
portion of the east wall trench. None of the field notes covers
the south end of the east wall trench and none appears for the
south wall trench. Yet these wall locations are estimated on
the base map so as to imply a complete structure. The trench
of the east wall was traceable only for 10 feet to the west
where it was protected by Road 3. This road is a subsequent
feature which curved in front of the Ambler House to the
south as it proceeded in a generally east-west direction. Curi-
ously, a second wall-footing trench appears within the angle of
the east and north walls of Structure 100, as if another structure
were involved. This second building trace shows only on the
lot map. Within the estimated rectangle of Structure 100
there was no cellar, paved or unpaved.
Artifacts
Ceramic and other artifact evidence in the Structure 100
foundation area is of great significance. The evidence largely
bears out Bentzen's original estimate in the single paragraph
of his report for the 1940 field work which constitutes the
only written description of the building. In this report, Bentzen
states that Structure 100 dates from the early part of the 17th
century (Bentzen, 1941).
To support this assumption, nearly all of the artifacts from
the old soil zone to undisturbed clay date from 1640 to 1660.
Presumably locally made building bricks are rather large and
usually orange-red and soft (9 by 4% by 2*/^ inches is the
only description given). There is a striking quantity of Dutch
brick of uniform greenish-yellow but of various and irregular
sizes. Many pieces of flat roofing tile were noted, probably
also local, but none is complete. Floor tile, while sparse, is
interesting in that there are 2 types: a larger square tile, 7
inches on a side and li/2 inches thick, and some smaller tiles
which have a dark-green glaze on the top surface. Signifi-
cantly, this glazed tile matches those pieces found 50 feet east,
95
in the kiln (Structure 88) where they were possibly chance in-
clusions, used as kiln props for glazed ceramics, or may even
have been fired themselves.
Earthenware is represented by a delftware pot fragment
which is blue-on-white inside and has a green glaze on the ex-
terior at the base. White clay pipes are significant in that 19
bowls represent 1640-60 and 6 represent 1660-80. Locally
made brown pipes are also present, though less numerous. A
majority were molded rather than modeled. One modeled bowl
was roulette decorated and initialled "AT." One stoneware
sherd was noted, either German or English, of salt-glazed blue-
on-gray.
Dutch gin bottle evidence was conspicuous and at least 50
pieces were found. No wine bottle sherds were found. Metal
is represented by numerous handwrought nails of various sizes
and some traces of barrel hoops.
Since the fill above Structure 100 yielded artifacts ranging
from 1640 to 1680, with emphasis on the first half of the
century, it is probable that the structure stood around 1625.
STRUCTURE 102, BRICK KILN
Structure 102 (Lot 101:98) was excavated in 1941 under
the direct supervision of J. C. Harrington. Excellent and com-
plete plans of this large and well-preserved brick and flat roof-
ing tile kiln are on file at Colonial National Historical Park,
Va. A comprehensive descriptive, analytical, and comparative
account has been published by Harrington entitled "Seventeenth
Century Brickmaking and Tilemaking at Jamestown, Virginia"
(Harrington, 1950, pp. 16-39). In view of this available
reference material, a brief summary description will suffice here.
The wall tops of the kiln were encountered from 8 to 12
inches below the surface and 6 inches below the top of a
secondary, or underlying humic zone. This possibly represented
a long period of tobacco cultivation prior to the recent plow
zone. The kiln had been prepared by excavating a level place
in sloping ground the width of the kiln structure, with the
opening on the downhill side.
The overall dimensions of the outside walls were roughly
241/2 feet wide by 19 feet front to back, with inside dimensions
22 by 15 feet. Rear and side walls averaged 14 inches thick
and the front wall with its 5 segmental arched openings
measured 34 inches at the bottom — a necessary increase in
thickness to provide strength for the archways. The arched
openings or fire holes (single row-lock segmental arches)
varied in width from 20y2 to 23V2 inches and in height from
20 to 26 inches. Three of the arches still had closure bricks
laid without mortar from 1 to 3 courses high, a feature noted
also in the smaller and earlier kiln, Structure 127. The kiln
walls averaged 10 bricks from base to remaining top.
The fire chambers, same width as the arches, were straight
and extended to the rear wall of the kiln, with remaining base
courses of bricks stacked on permanent benches between the
fire chambers. This permanent brick base was intended to pre-
vent moisture from rising from the earth, thus preventing the
soft bricks from hardening. In Structure 127 the absence of
fired brick sidewalls and base left the bricks in that early, small
kiln unfired and soft at the kiln sides and glazed at the fire-
box bottom. At the bottom, the potash derived from the con-
sumed fuel served as a flux to fuse the silica in the brick
exteriors. However, in Structure 102 the bricks found in 1
to 5 layers on the bases were incompletely fired. The bottom
4 layers were stacked on edge at a slight angle, above which
corbelling began and closed the arch over the firing chamber
at a height of 7 bricks or about 28 inches.
No archeological evidence denoted the exact original height
of the kiln, but Harrington estimates it to have been from 12
to 15 feet high and to have held about 50,000 bricks.
Harrington cites no conclusive historical or archeological
evidence of ownership or of the period of operation of the
Structure 102 kiln. He does mention, however, that a patent
to Nathaniel Bacon, Sr., recorded in 1683 for the tract to the
east of Beverley's property makes no mention of a brick kiln
on the adjoining land. Thus, it may be assumed that the kiln
had been abandoned when Beverley acquired the property in
1694. The best clue to the dating of the operation of this
kiln may be identification of bricks made in the kiln with those
of a dated house at Jamestown. The most common brick size
at the kiln is 9 by 4*4 by 2% inches, closest to the statutory
size (9 by 4y4 by 2%) in England before 1625. The James-
town structure which does have the same average-size brick
as Structure 102 is Structure 17 — but the identity of the bricks
with the kiln is not conclusive. Structure 102 tiles were fairly
uniform, about 10 by 6l/8 by % inches, or close to the 1477
statute size in England. Harrington concludes that in his
opinion this brickyard was in operation about the middle of
the 17th century.
The only feature associated significantly with Structure 102
was a pit located to the north and west covering about % acre.
From this pit an estimated 825 to 850 cubic yards of earth had
been removed, probably for brick clay, enough for half a million
bricks.
It is also of interest to note that Harrington mentions in his
1941 field progress report (Harrington, 1942b, p. 11) that he
found, but did not develop, a rectangular pit 4 feet from the
southwest corner of the brick kiln, Structure 102. In this pit
were 4 circular deposits of pitch (or tar) about 2 feet below
the 1941 surface. Each of these tar deposits was approximately
20 inches in diameter, but their depths were not determined.
Upper. — The large 5-arch brick kiln in Lot 101:98, viewed from the
south. This kiln, presumably mid- 17th century, is immediately east
of the present visitor center and the Tercentenary Monument.
Lower. — Detail of the kiln (Structure 102) showing alignment of
bricks between the firing chambers.
96
PLATE 51— Brick Kiln, Structure 102
91
A whole glass bottle found in the level on top of these de-
posits could not be found in the collection, but in the field
drawing its shape is that of a late 18th-century wine bottle.
STRUCTURES 103 AND 104
Both Structures 103 and 104 were encountered in 1941 by
J. C. Harrington in the course of testing by means of 10-foot
trenches immediately west of the Tercentenary Monument.
Neither structure was developed and recorded, and only brief
notations were made as to the first evidence encountered, after
which the excavations were stopped and the fill replaced.
Structure 103 (Lot 99:98) is merely identified in the field
notes as an indicated earth cellar with a maximum depth of
4 feet from the 1941 surface. It was encountered beneath a
seal of old humus which lay beneath the present sod line.
Within the cellar, beneath the earth floor level from 4 feet
to 4.8 feet below the surface, was a pier of brick masonry
1.8 feet wide and of undetermined length, made up of 3
courses. An indication of the character and dating is given by
the following field observation:
The fill in this "cellar" is made up of definite loading strata of vary-
ing materials, all being convex on their top surfaces, showing that this
fill was dumped in fairly large quantities, probably all at the same time.
There is more building debris near the bottom. These loading layers
are not being shown on the drawings, since it is obvious from the arti-
facts that the fill is all 18th century or later.
Structure 104 was encountered just as the 1941-42 field
season closed in midwinter. The structure was not even drawn
on the field plat and does not appear on the archeological base
map. The sum of information on this structure appears in
field notes as follows:
Three squares (Lot 100:98, squares 19, 29 and 39) were not exca-
vated completely. At a surface depth of about 0.6 to 0.8 feet several
disturbed areas and brick from a structure were encountered. A layer
of sand was spread on the floor of the trench before backfilling. (This
structure has been given Structure No. 104.)
Harrington gives a more expanded commentary (1942b, p.
12), the substance of which follows:
The remains of a probable brick structure were found in a
trench west of the monument. Excavations stopped at a depth
of about 6 inches, but sufficient evidence was noted to show a
structure had stood there, either a brick building or a frame
building with brick footings. Harrington adds: "This may be
part of the structure reported by Mr. Arthur Ayres [A.P.V.A.
grounds maintenance man] as having been found when building
the cement walk along the west side of the Monument. Also,
it is located in approximately the position indicated on Col.
Yonge's map as 'Traces of house foundations' " (Yonge, 1903,
p. 17).
Structure 104 was located just south of Feature 1, Lots 100:
98 and 100:99, at the east end of the latter, which appears
to have been a burned area 10 feet wide ranging east- west for
over 90 feet.
Undeveloped evidence of Structure 103 and probably 104
suggests that 18th-century occupation and construction are rep-
resented in this locality. A cursory review of the artifact evi-
dence now in the collection for these related lots and squares
confirms this hypothesis fairly surely.
STRUCTURE 105
Undoubtedly Structure 105 was the most enigmatic building
evidence discovered at Jamestown (Lots 94:106, 94:107 and
95:106). Bentzen reported this structure as "the house that
was never built." (Bentzen, 1941, p. 3.) All that remained
was a rectangular pit, apparently excavated for a cellar of a
house that would have had the same dimensions as Structure
17. The pit measured 65 feet by 45 feet, with the long axis
parallel to the river, and was from 4 to 4.5 feet below the
surface of 1940.
From the plan and profile we may infer that the accumu-
lation of fill began after a brief period of wash which left a
laminated deposit devoid of cultural material at the pit bottom.
The primary fill was evidently deposited quickly. It contained
little cultural material (none at all survives in the collection)
and consisted of clean sand and clay with large lenses of darker
earth. This deposit settled toward the middle of the pit.
Above this deposit and beneath the old humus was an old fill
zone which was general over the area, not over a foot deep,
on the average. A few objects in the collection ostensibly from
this old fill zone include sgraffito, Dutch gin, early wine bottles,
and window glass.
The most logical assumption, of course, is that another unit
of 3 joined houses was planned north of Structure 17, in which
case a lane must have existed between. Another implication
here is that, if a 3-unit house matching Structure 17 was pro-
jected, Structure 17 itself may have been built as a 3-part house
rather than a structure which began as the central unit ("The
First Statehouse") to which was added first east, then west
units. The idea that this structure at first had been only a
third or two thirds its final size is an architectural improbability.
STRUCTURE 106
Structure 106 (south-east corner of Lot 99:100) was one of
the early excavations (1936). It is entirely possible that this
Upper. — Overall view of Glasshouse site ruins uncovered in 1948.
Structure 107 is at the right, 108 in the background, 109 at the left.
The pile of stones at the left was accumulated during excavating,
all having come originally from the glass furnaces.
Lower. — Structure 107 at Glasshouse Point as it appeared, completely
uncovered, looking southwest. This is the main working furnace,
showing details of construction and pieces of slag at the rear of the
fire chamber.
98
PLATE 52— The Glasshouse Ruins
99
rectangular pit area represents an excavation in which a house
foundation, possibly with cellar, was once placed. However,
an equally plausible alternative is that this excavation was a pit
intended for a cellar, but never completed. Also it may have
been a borrow pit from which clay was obtained, possibly for
the brickmaking operations at the Structure 102 kiln, some 230
feet to the northwest. The pit (like Refuse Pit 1, which was
demonstrably a borrow pit) was filled with similar refuse, i.e.,
brickbats, mortar, and discarded objects of many types, mostly
household. Still another possibility is that this pit was origin-
ally dug to receive refuse, since the sides were gently sloping
and contained no constructed masonry traces. The present
writer feels that this pit was used as a refuse pit deliberately,
and that its identity as a building foundation excavation is not
proved.
The dimensions of this rectangular pit are 41 feet east-west,
24 feet north-south, approximately oriented on magnetic north.
Structure 19B, a double house, lay 37 feet east, and Well 11,
about 14 feet to the northeast. At the center the pit was 3.5
feet below the surface or 2.8 feet below the bottom of the
humus zone, in undisturbed clay. The slope from the edge of
the pit to the maximum depth was regular and measured 10
feet.
The pit content was described by the excavators as "dump
material consisting of brick, tile, mortar, charcoal, pottery, nails,
iron objects and glass." A detailed review of objects in the
Jamestown collection which can be associated with this pit fill,
plus further reference in the excavator's notes, indicates that
the fill was characterized by a large amount of brick debris.
From a single 10 foot square within this fill, 180 clean bricks
and 20 bricks with mortar attached were counted. Some tile
was noted, although it was not described. Probably it was all
roofing tile. Although "pottery" evidence is mentioned, only
one jar is identifiable at this time. This jar is described as
olive colored with light-tan paste, lead-glazed, and characterized
by 2 unique vertical lugs at the neck and shoulders. The lugs
are placed opposite to each other and each is perforated with
2 holes for suspension. The most significant ceramic evidence
is that of tobacco pipes which would appear to be associated
with mid-century, judging from the apertures of white stems.
Yet 4 white bowls are definitely last-quarter 17th century.
Brown stems and bowls are as numerous as white, and are
obviously locally made. Their dating is questionable except
by reference to the white samples.
Other good dating evidence for Structure 106 comes from
the wine-bottle fragments, 3 of which suggest third-quarter and
4 fourth-quarter 17th century clearly. One is early 18th century.
The most logical interpretation of the fill and use of the
Structure 106 pit is that it was dug for an unknown purpose
in the third quarter of the 17th century or possibly even before
the first half, and was filled with the refuse of a burned brick
structure. It seems reasonable to suppose that the burned struc-
ture was Structure 19A, since the artifacts are predominantly
third quarter. The original destruction of Structure 19A must
have taken place prior to the superimposed Structure 19B, the
date of which comes close to the end of the 17th century.
STRUCTURES 107, 108A AND 108B, 109, AND
WELL (UNSPECIFIED) : THE GLASSHOUSE SITE
The most meticulously recorded and completely reported
structures related to Jamestown Island are those of the Glass-
house site. Drawings have been finished and are exhaustive
in detail and accuracy. The reader is referred to these draw-
ings, on file at Jamestown, and to J. C Harrington's booklet
entitled Glassmak'tng at Jamestown (Harrington, 1952). For
the present report, only a summary is offered.
The Glasshouse structure complex consisted of a working
furnace (Structure 107) ; a fritting furnace (Structure 108 A)
joined to an annealing furnace (Structure 108B) ; a pot kiln
(Structure 109) ; a cullet pile; a clay pit; and a well. Ex-
tensive test trenching to the north, south, and east failed to
locate traces of dwellings or other structures, except the "greate
road" (Road 1), which was found to bend around the Glass-
house cluster between the structures and the shore. The struc-
tures of the Glasshouse all were within Lot N 143, E 75.
The late Jesse Dimmick who owned the property before it
was acquired by the National Park Service identified the Glass-
house site and uncovered some of the structural and artifact
evidence in the 1920's. Prior to the actual re-establishment of
the site through structural evidence, the location had been re-
ferred to as Glasshouse Point ever since the 17th century.
Until the Revolutionary War period the causeway between
Glasshouse Point and Jamestown Island had remained suffi-
ciently intact to permit the continued use of the "greate road"
which led to Green Spring Plantation and thence to Williams-
burg.
Structure 107, the main working furnace, was roughly circu-
lar, 9 feet in average diameter, and built of cobbles or large
river pebbles above a stone paving. Through the center of the
paving lay a chamber 2 feet wide and 2 to 6 inches high. Thick
deposits of slag lay on this paving, and at either side, 1 foot
above, were traces of the platforms or "sieges" on which the
crucibles for melting the glass were placed. The front of the
furnace had a 3-foot extension also with a stone floor. Although
only the furnace base remained intact, fragments of the working
hole frames had stone spalls fused to them. This indicated that
the entire structure had been of cobblestones obtained from an
undetermined location further up the James River, towards the
fall line. In a pit located immediately west of the furnace
opening were found fragments of furnace refuse, including
fragments of old melting pots, working hole frames, glass drip-
pings, slag, and ashes — all probably resulting from a cleanup
operation in 1621 when the second glassmaking venture began.
Structure 109, the pot kiln, was a special furnace the use of
which is not definitely known ; however, it was probably a kiln
for firing new pots and for preheating pots before they went
into the extreme heat of the working furnace. This kiln was
100
Upper.
PLATE 53 — The Glasshouse Furnace and Artifacts
Two auxiliary furnaces for annealing the blown glass.
Lower. — Artifacts found at Glasshouse excavations: A small crucible, rim of a working hole, a large crucible fragment, green glass fragments, and
cullet. Many of the artifacts found at Glasshouse were from the fill of a refuse pit near the mouth of the large furnace, and possibly include debris
from the original operations cleaned up when the furnaces were reconstructed 10 years later.
101
built of large river stones, but it had the smallest fire chamber
of all the structures at Glasshouse — 4l/2 feet long and 11/2 feet
wide. The antechamber and opening before the potrest at the
rear of the kiln were paved with fewer than a dozen bricks.
The measurements of these bricks were not recorded, but they
were red to orange-red and relatively soft, corresponding to the
bricks of Structure 108B, the annealing furnace.
Structure 108B, the annealing furnace, was built end-to-end
with Structure 108 A, the fritting furnace or perhaps second
annealing furnace. These furnaces were similar in the elon-
gated forms. The annealing furnace had a small rectangular
platform at the front, similar to the pot kiln, but built entirely
of bricks. The fire chamber of 108B was 2 feet wide and 5
feet long and was likewise paved with bricks, affording a very
important and useful observation regarding type and size, since
this structure can be placed with finality as dating no later than
1621. Measurements and observations of these bricks (ap-
proximately 30) as recorded by Harrington are as follows:
Texture and aspect, soft red (to orange- red as observed by Cotter
in 1957).
Size: Width — 41/8 to 4% inches, average 4 14
Length — 8V2 to 9lA inches, average 8V2 to 85/s
Thickness — 2*4 to 2V2 inches. (Very few measurements
obtained.)
Structure 108 A, the fritting furnace, or possibly a second
annealing furnace, resembled its neighbor, 108B, but had a
stone platform and a stone-paved fire chamber, rather than one
of brick paving. The longest of the 3 small structures, 108 A,
had a chamber of length of 61/2 feet. The walls of the joined
structures were less than 1 foot thick, of comparatively small
cobbles, so that the arch was probably low. A square stone
platform placed at the side of Structure 108A, at the rear, pro-
vides a clue to the original use of this furnace, described by
Harrington (1952, p. 26), as follows:
The square stone platform outside and at the back of this furnace
shows evidence of having been subjected to heat after being laid in
place. The only reasonable conclusion is that the hot "frit" was shov-
elled or raked out of an opening near the back of the furnace onto this
platform. If this interpretation is correct, then (Structure 108A) would
have been a low, arched, tunnel-like structure, probably having a raised
stone floor at the rear and an opening between this ledge and the square
platform outside. There may have been one or more draft holes in the
top of the arch.
The well near the furnaces yielded no diagnostic artifacts
(an indication of short duration of its use). Only a nearly
intact barrel 4 feet high, of oak staves, bottomless, and bound
with iron hoops, lay at the usual position, in the bottom of the
well. When excavated, the sides were of earth, although an
original frame siding may have rotted in the ground without
leaving a trace above the barrel which was preserved below the
waterline.
Artifacts
Many glass fragments from the Glasshouse site were exam-
ined and analyzed by J. Paul Hudson at the Corning Glass
Research Institute laboratory in 1958. Among them were
fragments of the following objects, which appear to have been
made at Jamestown in 1608-9: window panes, small bottles,
and simple drinking vessels. Although no beads were found,
presence of cobalt blue in the crucible indicates that experiments
were made to produce beads. (Nearly all beads from the James-
town collection are clearly Italian, probably from Venice.)
STRUCTURE 110
On the north side of the New Towne area at the edge of
Pitch and Tar Swamp are the remains of a small building,
Structure 110. This was a rectangular structure with inside
measurements of 21.5 feet by an average of 20.3 feet (Sim-
mons, 1955a). The sides face approximately the cardinal di-
rections with the longer sides to the north and south. There
is no evidence of interior partitions. At the southwest corner
of the building is a sizeable fireplace projecting southward from
the south wall. Structure 110 and Structure 111 are both lo-
cated in Lot 102:103.
The existing ruins consist of exterior brick wall foundations
on the 4 sides. Square red ceramic tiles cover most of the in-
terior floor. The surface of the floor lies 1 to 2 feet below
the surface of the ground, and the height of the remaining walls
varies from 0.3 to 2 feet. The wall foundations are of locally
made bricks in the size range 8y2 to 8% inches long, by 4 to
414 inches wide, by 2 to 2% inches thick. Irregular English
bond was employed for the most part in the surviving portions
of the walls, although the east wall — consisting largely of frag-
mentary bricks — exhibits no regular bonding at all. There are
intentional 1 -foot-wide gaps in the brickwork at the 4 corners
of the building and a similar gap about midway in both the
north and south walls.
The fireplace at the southwest corner projects outward, to
the south, from the building proper. On the inside it measures
7.9 feet wide by 3.3 feet deep, and has a brick floor which
rises about 1 inch higher than the general floor level of the
structure. The interior corners of the fireplace are rounded
Upper. — Ruins of a possible brewhouse or workshop completely exca-
vated. The floor was paved with square tiles except within the large
south (lower left) fireplace, which was paved with brick upon which
Firebox B stood. Firebox A, adjacent, in the corner, and Firebox C,
at the east wall, both stood on tile. The west (left) wall also had a
brick-floored fireplace of smaller dimensions which may be seen
opposite the man to the left.
Lower. — Structure 110 was part of a small industrial area at the edge
of Pitch and Tar Swamp dating from the first half of the 17th cen-
tury, and may have been a brewhouse. Capt. John Moone is known
to have owned a brewhouse in 1655 in the "James Citty" area. Re-
search by Kocher, Hudson, Cotter, and Jelks. Painting by Sidney E.
King. (Note that the conjectural west fireplace is represented here
as a more conjectural doorway.)
102
PLATE 54 — Structure 110 — Ruins and Conjectural Painting
103
".
PLATE 55— Structure 110 Fireboxes
104
smoothly. On the east side there is an iron strap !/4 of an
inch thick and about 1 foot long embedded in the mortar be-
tween 2 of the floor bricks. It is probably an anchor to support
a crane used in swinging heavy pots over the fire.
The most striking features of Structure 110 are the 3 brick
"fireboxes": Firebox A built against the east wall of the build-
ing, Firebox B inside the large fireplace, and Firebox C against
the west wall about 18 inches northwest of Firebox B. These
were undoubtedly used as furnaces — Fireboxes A and C still
retain charcoal and ash — but for what craft or industry is
uncertain.
Firebox A is trapezoidal in peripheral outline and has a
circular interior fire chamber. It lies against the east wall of
the building and has its own brick floor which was placed over
the tile floor of the building proper. A small stoke hole (1.4
inches wide) in the west side of the firebox leads into the fire
chamber.
Fireboxes B and C are both cylindrical in shape. B rests
on the hearth of the large fireplace, the bricks of the hearth
serving as a floor for the firebox. A small flue which leads
from the interior chamber into the south wall of the large fire-
place was cut out after the wall had been constructed. There
is a small opening (about a foot wide) in the north side of
Firebox B through which the fire could be tended. Against
the northwest exterior wall of Firebox B are 4 semicircular
bricks stacked vertically 1 on top of another. They appear to
have been dressed down from ordinary bricks.
Firebox C was built directly on the tile floor against the west
wall of Structure 110, a few inches outside of the large fire-
place. There is no sign of a stoke hole as in A and B. How-
ever, only a small portion of the original brickwork remains
ind originally there may have been a stoke hole which has
low disappeared entirely.
The fill which overlay Structure 110 was 1 to 2 feet thick.
It was removed completely during the 1955 excavations, at
which time 3 distinct zones were noted :
Zone A was a heavy, compact zone consisting mostly of
vhole and broken bricks and pieces of roofing tiles. It rested
directly on the tile floor and was banked against the south wall
)f the building, whence it extended northward about halfway
icross the floor before pinching out. This stratum seems to
epresent debris derived largely from the fallen south wall.
Zone B was a layer of mixed soil containing building detritus
[fragments of bricks, tiles, nails, etc.) which lay immediately
.bove Zone A in the southern part of the house and directly
»n the tile floor in the northern part.
Jpper. — Firebox B, with Firebox A at the right. It is thought probable
that the fireboxes of Structure 110 may indicate use as a brewhouse.
The aspect of the large fireplace, however, with the fireboxes placed
on the bricks of the fireplace floor and the tile of the house interior,
suggests other precedent uses.
.ower. — Firebox C.
Zone C was a superficial stratum of topsoil which blanketed
the entire area, averaging about 6 inches thick.
Firebox A had a layer of charcoal some 2 inches thick on its
floor, above which was Zone B fill. Firebox C also had a
basal charcoal deposit (5 to 6 inches thick) but no separate
charcoal zone was present in Firebox B. Both Firebox B and
the upper part of Firebox C (above the charcoal) were filled
with the Zone A rubble.
Several hundred artifacts were found in the fill of Structure
110, including clay pipe stems and bowls; metal tools; gun
parts; glass beads; lead shot; a fragment of a large crucible
used in the manufacture of glass ; tiles which had served as
bases for stacking pottery during kiln burning; and sherds of
earthenware, porcelain, and glass bottles. Of special interest
and significance are several dozen pieces of flat roofing tiles
bearing glaze drippings which prove that pottery was made
locally. In the manufacture of pottery it was customary when
stacking the unfired vessels in the kiln to place each one of
them mouth downward on a flat surface such as that provided
by roofing tiles. If glaze had been applied to the vessel, it
would frequently drip down onto the tile or other base, leaving
thereon an outline of the vessel's mouth traced in the glaze
drippings. Several tile fragments with such glaze outlines were
found in the southeast part of Structure 110 on the tile floor.
A number of others came from the Zone B fill overlying Struc-
ture 110. Similar pieces of tile were unearthed in the kiln
area of Structure 111, from the trash accumulation in Refuse
Pit 1, and in adjacent areas.
Also related to Structure 111 and Refuse Pit 1 is a fragment
of a large glass-making pot or crucible which came from the
fill overlying Structure 110. A similar crucible fragment and
several fragments of granitic stone coated with glass drippings
were unearthed at Structure 111. Pieces of the same kind of
glass-covered stone were recovered from Refuse Pit 1. Glass
manufacture was one of the first industries attempted at James-
town, the glassworks being in operation in 1608, and again in
the period 1621 to 1624 at Glasshouse Point on the mainland,
approximately a mile from Structure 110. One of the pieces
of fractured stone from Refuse Pit 1 and another fragment
found at Glasshouse Point actually fit together like 2 pieces of
a jigsaw puzzle. This showed that the stones, and undoubtedly
the pieces of crucibles, were brought into the Structure 110-
Structure Ill-Refuse Pit 1 area from the ruins of the old glass-
works at Glasshouse Point.
Glass from several square Dutch gin bottles was found in
Structure 110, but only a trace of wine-bottle glass was re-
covered from the humus zone. Bowls and stems of the ubiqui-
tous clay pipes were present. The pipestems are remarkable in
that approximately half of them have molded decorations, a
trait characteristic of Dutch pipes and of uncommon occurrence
at Jamestown. Ten glass beads and 10 lead shot of "goose
shot" size were found in a small hole in the floor and imbedded
between the floor tiles immediately around the hole. Confine-
ment to such a small area suggests that they were spilled from
105
a single container. Seven of the glass beads are yellow, two
are clear, and the other is blue. All are of the small "seed"
variety commonly used for trade with Indians over most of
North America. Archeologist Kenneth Kidd of the Royal
Ontario Museum has identified these beads as Venetian, prob-
ably of the 1600 to 1625 period.
The breech end of an iron musket barrel lay on the tile floor
near the center of the building. It is a 17th-century type with
bore diameter of 21 mm. (.83 inches) and was apparently dis-
carded in the process of manufacture since no touch hole had
been drilled into the firing chamber.
Perhaps the most significant artifact find at Structure 110 is
the large group of sherds from earthenware vessels of local
manufacture. The majority of these sherds were recovered
from the fill of Zones B and C over the northern half of the
building. At least 28 vessels and 8 vessel lids are represented
by the fragments. Many of these show evidence of warping
or cracking during firing, or possess other defects which indi-
cate they are rejects from the pottery making activities thought
to have been carried on at the nearby Structure 111 kilns.
Structure 110, then, seems to have been a relatively small
building which was probably erected originally as a dwelling.
Gaps in the brickwork at the four corners and in the middle
of the north and south wall foundations indicate that some
timbering was involved in the construction despite the solid
brick foundation. The large number of tile fragments found
in the fill testify that tiles were one of the important structural
materials, and it seems likely, therefore, that there was a tile
roof. The existing wall foundations are not wide enough to
support brick walls over 1 story high.
At some unknown time after the house had been completed,
the three fireboxes were added. This is shown by the facts
that none of the fireboxes is bonded into the house structure
proper and that the flue leading from Firebox B into the south
wall of the large fireplace was chiseled through the brickwork
after the wall had been completed. These fireboxes must have
been for some sort of industrial use, but their exact function has
not yet been determined. Suggested uses include baking,
brewing, or distilling.
We are indebted to The Republic Steel Corporation through
the cooperation of Dr. M. J. R. Morris, Director of Research
for the Central Alloy District, who supplied the following an-
alyses and conclusions after testing four samples of earth taken
from around the bricks of fireplaces and hearth features:
TABLE II — Chemical Analysis of Earth Samples from Structure 110
Sample
Identity
Fe
Al
Si
Pb
B
Ca
Va
Cu
Ag
Na
Zn
77
Ni
314
Firebox B
+ +
-
VH
-
tr
tr
tr
tr
tr
tr
tr
-
tr
575
Firebox C interior,
floor
+ +
VH
+
tr
__
tr
tr
tr
576
Floor area
+ +
-
VH
-
tr
-
tr
tr
tr
tr
—
tr
577
Fireplace in south
wall, floor be-
tween bricks ....
+ +
—
VH
+
—
—
—
—
—
tr
—
—
tr
Dr. Morris concludes:
From these analyses there is no evidence that any type of metallurgical
smelting occurred in the structure. The elements and their amount
listed above are not different from what might be obtained from a poor
quality fireclay or a loam.
We can only make the following observations: The structure was used
for a low temperature operation. This is evidenced by the lack of fusion
of the mortar or conversion of the quartz to higher temperature stable
forms. That the structure was for a special use is indicated by the tiled
floor. Among such special uses the low temperature possibilities would
be: ( 1 ) the storing and drying of glass making crucibles or ceramic
ware, (2) drying and baking cores used in casting pig iron products,
(3) bread making or (4) some form of distillation, curing or smoking.
Distillation of tar or pitch, although a possibility, would have left a
carbon deposit in the mortar and brick which was not observed in any of
the samples examined.
From Dr. Morris' excellent observations we need only con-
clude that the best evidence points to use of Structure 110 as
a bakery or brewery. Since brewing is known to have been
one of the community activities at Jamestown in the 17th
century, and actual remains of coarse earthenware baking ovens
have been found elsewhere, in Lots 93:110, 98:100 and 96:103
to the south, it follows that baking was not done in such fire-
boxes as those in Structure 110. Therefore, in its ultimate use,
Structure 110 was probably one of the Jamestown breweries,
the first mention of which was made by Capt. John Smith
(Arber, 1910, pp. 887-888), who observed that as of 1625-29
"They have two brew-houses, but they finde the Indian corne
so much better than ours, they beginne to leave sowing it [i.e.,
wheat']."
The artifacts recovered from the fill overlying Structure 110
can be dated approximately on a basis of typology. The use
of English bond and the absence of Flemish bond in the brick-
work, the presence of gin bottles and the absence of wine
bottles, the presence of early 17th century forms of delftware
and German stoneware, the early varieties of porcelain and the
locally made earthenware, the absence of artifact types con-
sidered diagnostic of the post- 1650 period — all these factors
106
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60
a
•5 »
v» »-
3 »
2 <o
I
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i— (
5»
H3
8
^
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107
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.9 ,1 U 1*1 .9.1
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108
in combination reveal that Structure 110 most likely had been
abandoned and was in ruin by 1650 or shortly thereafter.
Furthermore, the glassmaking debris and the misfired pottery
rejects provide evidence that the fill material overlying Structure
110 is contemporaneous with the upper fill material of the
Structure 111 kilns and with the middle — and possibly the
lower — zone of Refuse Pit 1.
Consequently the artifacts from those two places serve as
cross-checks in corroborating the date of Structure 110. Since
the artifacts from the Structure 111 kilns have been dated as
belonging to the period 1620-50, and the artifacts from Refuse
Pit 1 date from 1610 to 1650, it appears conclusive that Struc-
ture 110 had been abandoned and filled with earth and debris
by 1650. Therefore, Structure 110 was probably in use during
the period 1630-50.
There is the remote possibility that Structure 110 was origin-
ally a timber-framed house with clapboarded sides or wattled
panels. In this case the bricks might have been added later to
replace the clapboards or wattling. This does not appear likely,
however, as the gaps in the existing brick foundations allow
only for 1 upright timber at each corner plus 1 each in the
north and south walls. This would leave gaps of over 20 feet
across to be bridged by the plates on the east and west sides,
an arrangement that is structurally unsound and not in keeping
with traditional framing practices in England.
Architectural Details, Structure 1 10
Unit
Large fireplace in
south wall
Unit
North wall foun-
dation
East wall foun-
dation
South wall foun-
dation
West wall foun-
dation
7loor
ubflooring
Description
Portions of first and second courses remain; type of
bond could not be determined; foundation is 2
bricks wide (1.5') > nrst course consists of bricks
set on edge; second course is of bricks laid flat.
2 to 4 courses remain ; first course is of whole bricks
set on edge; second, third, and fourth courses are
largely of irregular-sized bats laid erratically; in-
terior of wall is in straight line, but exterior
bulges out in the middle portion; wall width
varies from 1.3' at the ends to 2.3' in the middle.
6 to 7 courses preserved ; irregular English bond ;
li/2 bricks wide (1.2').
1 to 6 courses, H/2 bricks wide (1.2' to 1.4') ; Eng-
lish bond, slightly wider at south end (1.4') than
at north end (1.2').
The floor consists of a pavement of square ceramic
tiles, 1 tile thick; 2 sizes of tiles are present;
there is 1 row of the larger tiles along the outer
edge of the north and south sides of the struc-
ture; there are 2 rows of the larger tiles along the
outer edge of the floor at the east side of the
structure; none of the larger tiles are at the west
side; the rest of the flooring consists of the smaller
size tiles; all tiles are beveled on 2 opposing
edges so that the upper surface is larger than the
lower surface; the tile flooring runs beneath Fire-
boxes A and C.
The tile flooring is laid on a general bed of sterile
sand which rests directly on undisturbed clay.
Firebox A
Firebox B
Firebox C
Small hearth in
middle of west
wall
Mortar
Gaps in Walls
Bricks
Tiles
Description
6 to 7 courses; south wall of chimney foundation is
2i/2 bricks wide (2.0') ; east and west walls of
chimney foundation are each 1 V2 bricks wide
(1.2'); exterior corners are square while interior
corners are rounded; brick hearth is raised 1"
above tile floor of the building.
Brick floor of firebox (1 brick thick) is laid on a
V2" bed of clay mortar which overlies the tile
floor of the building; 1 to 3 courses remain
(counting the brick floor, which appears from the
exterior to be part of the firebox walls) ; there is
no bonding to building wall or to building floor.
5 to 7 courses; rests directly on brick floor of large
fireplace (this firebox does not have a separate
floor of its own as does Firebox A) ; there is no
bonding to either floor or wall of the large fire-
place; some bricks have been dressed down into
tapered forms to fit the circular pattern of the
firebox; a small flue leads into the south wall of
the large fireplace (this flue was cut into the wall
after the wall had been erected); 4 semi-circular
coping-style bricks (apparently dressed down from
standard bricks) are stacked vertically against the
northwest exterior wall of the firebox.
1 to 4 courses; rests directly on tile floor of build-
ing; no door or other opening in bottom course of
bricks as in Fireboxes A and B ; is not bonded to
floor or wall.
A single row of bricks set on edge faces into the
building; "hearth" area is 2*/2 bricks or 2' wide
and 3.4' long.
The bricks are joined with clay containing no visible
shell, lime, or sand.
At each of the 4 corners and at the midway point
of the north and south walls are square or rec-
tangular gaps in the brickwork measuring ap-
proximately 1' wide in each case, the other
dimension being determined by the wall thick-
ness at each particular spot.
Locally made; hand molded.
Color: dominantly red, with occasional dark-red
to vermillion.
Length, 8%" to 8%", av. 85/8"
Width, 4" to 41/4", av. 4y8"
Thickness, 2" to 2V4", av. zy&"
(Note: some of the bricks in the floor of the
large fireplace measured only lVs" thick, but
this was very probably due to excess wear.)
Locally made; hand molded.
Color, red. Two sizes, both beveled on two oppo-
site edges only.
Large size, 7%" by 77/g" for top surface.
Av. 7%" by 7%" for bottom side
Thickness, 1%"
Small size, 6Vg" to 6V4" square on top surface.
6" by 6Ys" to 6V4" on bottom side
l5/8" thick
109
STRUCTURE ill
For convenience the designation, Structure 111, was given to
a close cluster of three features, all of which are assumed to
represent kilns of one type or another. Two of these features
are rectangular, and one circular. The circular one possibly had
a primary use as an iron smelting pit. Kiln A lies 3 feet to
the north of the circular pit (Kiln C), and Kiln B, the edge
of which is cut by Kiln C, lies at right angles to A.
Kiln A. First to be located by test trenching, this kiln ap-
peared as a 13.5 - by 3-foot rectangular fire-marked shallow de-
pression in the subsoil, oriented east-west. In the top of this
feature, just below the humus zone, a quantity of white, light-
weight material was observed which proved to be slaked lime
derived from oyster shells. The trough-shaped firing chamber
with clay bottom and sides showed evidence of intense heat.
At the east end, the aspect suggested a rectangular flue which
may originally have been of brick, although only a few broken
brick fragments remained, none in pattern, at the time of ex-
cavation. At the west end of the presumed flue were two flat
stones, on opposite sides of the trough. One of these stones
had tool marks typical of dressed masonry. The other stone
was identical in material with dressed stones from the glass-
making site at Glasshouse Point, and retained a well-preserved
glaze on the top surface marked by a ring — an imprint from
a round object, most likely a pot from which glaze had run
down in firing. Evidence of this and other specimens of stone
furnace and ceramic crucible parts in the Structure Ill-Refuse
Pit 1 locality show not that glass was made here, but that stones
and other refuse were salvaged from the glassmaking site and
reused here. Stone and refuse were useful in kiln building
and operation at Jamestown.
Kiln B. This kiln, set at right angles to Kiln A, was 15
by 5 feet and was characterized by 2 narrow, parallel, trough-
shaped firing chambers in place of the 1 broad chamber of Kiln
A. A few scattered fragments of partially burned oyster shell
here could well have been extraneously derived. It may be
assumed from the limited evidence yielded by excavation that
the flue was vented at the south end of the kiln. Kiln A was
precedent to circular Kiln C in the latter's last stage.
Kiln C. This kiln is circular, 8 to 10 feet in diameter, and
has a clay lining 9 inches thick at most. This lining has been
baked to a deep-red color, grading to clean, yellow unburned
clay beneath. A lump of pure gray clay, unburned and still
malleable, as well as bits of limestone and bituminous coal
were found in the top foot of Kiln C fill. Underlying this
presumed kiln is a pit averaging 10 feet in diameter and having
an entrance-like projection slightly less than 3 feet long to
the east. This deeper portion of the pit has a zone of charcoal
1 to 2 inches thick along its sides and bottom. Over this zone
is a layer of trash-bearing fill averaging a foot thick. At first
this underlying pit was taken to be a trash deposit. However,
the presence of iron ore (bog iron), some limestone and quan-
tities of charcoal strongly suggest that the pit was used initially
as an iron smelting device. Such pits were also associated with
ironworking, and the presence of pieces of iron and metal
objects also suggests possible proximity to a forge.
Artifacts
Only three objects of cultural significance were recovered
from the shallow deposits overlying Kilns A and B. A roofing
tile at Kiln B is unimportant. However, two fragments of
granite stone covered with vitreous glaze were in the base of
Kiln A. These were identical in type with glaze-covered
granitic fragments discovered at the Glasshouse. (Note further
evidence found in nearby Refuse Pit 1, including a fragment
which actually fitted into a fragment from Glasshouse Point.)
The balance of artifact evidence was from Kiln C (actually
the deposit overlying a circular pit) and from the deeper fill
of a pit beneath the kiln layer. This may indicate metal-
working and perhaps even smelting of limited amounts of bog
iron ore within the pit.
In Kiln C proper (overlying stratum), 246 pieces of flat
roofing tile were recovered, of which 12 were glaze-marked in-
dicating use in a pottery kiln. A good representation of local
lead-glazed earthenware was present, but no other ceramics.
Significantly, no metal objects or slag traces were found here,
although pieces of limestone and burned oyster shell did occur.
One gin-bottle fragment, pieces of window quarrels, and three
scraps of indeterminate mammal bone, completed the evidence
found in the kiln stratum.
The pit beneath Kiln C proper was rich in artifacts, the ma-
jority of which were metal. Only 34 flat roofing tiles were
located here, 2 of which were glaze-marked — all possibly in-
trusive from the kiln above. Although not numerous, earthen-
ware pieces were present in variety, including local lead-glazed,
an English marbled slipware bowl fragment, some English
green, dark and light lead-glazed fragments, some delftware,
and a two-handled Hispanic jug with narrow spout and partly
covered with thin lead glaze. All of this earthenware repre-
sents types familiar to the first half of the 17th century. Seven
fragments of blue-on-white Oriental porcelain are indeterminate
except that they are within the provenience of 17th-century
manufacture.
The most diagnostic artifacts, chronologically, are the clay
Upper. — This structure consisted of two pottery kilns at right angles,
a problematical pit between them, shown here with the lower portion
of the fill sectioned east to west. The shallow upper fill was deepest
to the west (left), sloping up steeply to the west, with a well defined
bottom showing heavy burning. The lower fill had several metal
objects from the first half of the 17th century, and some evidence of
iron smelting.
Lower. — The pit (within the angle of the two kilns) which may have
been used for smelting, or certainly, ironworking. The pit is shown
cleared except for a remnant of fill in the far half.
110
PLATE 56 — Structure 111 — Pottery Kilns and Pit
111
tobacco-pipe fragments, including three bowls, which clearly
indicate the first half, specifically the second quarter, of the
17th century. It is important to observe the confirmation in
this instance of Harrington's stem hole diameter dating esti-
mates (Harringon, 1954). In Kiln C pit, 15 stems are %4
and 3 are %4 of an inch in hole diameter, placing the pipes
specifically in the 1620-50 period. The bowls associated are
clearly of this period.
The second quarter dating for Kiln C pit is borne out equally
well by glass evidence (8 gin-bottle fragments, 3 partial bottles,
and no wine-bottle fragments), and by metals (attachment
strips for a pole arm and numerous light armor fragments).
Strong possibility that Kiln C pit was used for smelting may
be seen in pieces of slag, limestone, burned lime from oyster
shells, bog-iron nodules, some pieces of iron ore with bits of
charcoal interspersed, and charcoal bits. The substrata may
well suggest use as a forge pit as well. This is indicated by
115 handwrought nails, the armor fragments, a broadsword
basket hilt (J-7081), kettle fragments, copper strips, and a
curved lump of lead from the bottom of a melting pot.
Associated Features
Two closely associated features are undoubtedly related to
the kiln complex designated Structure 111, These are Structure
110, 20 feet to the east, the problematical workshop indicated
by a brick foundation with a tile floor and 3 brick fireboxes ;
and Refuse Pit 1, 10 feet to the south, the 40-foot square area
presumed to have been a clay borrow pit. This pit was ulti-
mately filled with town refuse and waste material from the
nearby kilns and workshop. Although Structures 113, 112, and
117 all lie within a radius of 160 feet of the kiln complex,
no definite association can be established between them.
Summary
Structure 111 is an inclusive designation for a cluster of
three kilns which may or may not have been encompassed by
a single structure. Most probably they were open to the
weather. Of the 2 rectangular kilns lying at right angles to
each other, 1 at least had a secondary use as a lime-burning
device. The circular kiln may have been preceded by a smelt-
ing or metalworking pit, as indicated by iron and steel objects
and raw materials required by iron smelting.
According to Malcolm Watkins of the U. S. National
Museum, all three kilns are of the proper design and dimen-
sions to have been used for firing pottery. Potsherds from the
kilns and their immediate surroundings appear often to be
rejected material from pottery manufacture, that is, they are
apparently from vessels which warped or collapsed during
firing. Roofing tiles and 1 stone bearing the impressions of
pot bases or rims outlined in glaze drippings were found in
Kiln A and elsewhere in the vicinity. Unquestionably these
show use of such devices for supporting pottery vessels as they
were being fired.
STRUCTURE 112
Structure 112 was a large building located on the north-
west side of New Towne atop a low ridge, some 300 feet south
of Pitch and Tar Swamp. The remaining brick foundation
measures, on the inside, approximately 48 feet long by 30 to
31 feet wide (Simmons, 1955b). Near the middle of the
south wall are the foundations of a porch or similar structure.
The long sides of the building face approximately north and
south. A small room about 61/2 feet square is appended to
the west side of the porch, the west porch wall and the adjoin-
ing portion of the main building's south wall serving as two
of its walls. A large H-shaped chimney foundation lying 15
feet off the southwest corner of the main structure is herein
considered part of Structure 112. Several subareas within
Structure 112 can be recognized as probably having been indi-
vidual rooms, porches, or other distinct architectural units.
These have been assigned letter designations (Room A, Room
B, Room E, etc.) for convenience of reference.
There are two main parts to the building — the cellar, run-
ning completely across the north side of the house, and the
non-cellar portion, including the front porch. Visible struc-
tural remains consist of brick cellar walls, brick wall founda-
tions outside the cellar area, brick flooring in the cellar, tile
flooring on Room E, charred timbers in Rooms G and H, 2
H-shaped chimney foundations (1 inside the house, the other
15 feet southwest of the house proper), and 2 brick fireplaces
in the cellar.
That portion of the house lying south of the cellar has been
divided into 5 subareas, Rooms A, B, C, D, and F, plus Room
E, the small area paved with ceramic tiles. Room A is a small
enclosure, about 61/2 feet square, nestled in the corner formed
by the main south wall of the house and the west wall of the
front porch. The west and south walls of Room A are de-
lineated by single lines of bricks laid end to end, with a vacant
interval of 2.2 feet in the south wall. The heavy house and
porch walls, of course, served respectively as the north and east
walls of Room A. The lines of bricks marking the south and
Upper. — Structure 112, the largest single-unit house so far (1957)
discovered at Jamestown, seen from the west. The cellar portion is
to the left, at the far end of which is the pile-driving weight (Plate
58). Spaced recesses in the south wall suggest large wooden upright
members. A trace of the double footing for the west wall is in the
left center foreground, part of evidence of two building stages (Lots
101:101, 101:102).
Lower. — Ruins completely excavated, viewed from the east. The three
header bricks and the base upon which they rest at the lower center
of the picture mark the southeast corner of the house. To the left
of this corner is a double line of brick rubble deposited in the top
fill of Ditch 79 (nearest the camera) and Ditch 80, a serpentine
ditch probably of the 18th century. Both ditches intersected the
southeast corner of Structure 112.
112
PLATE 57 — Excavated Foundations of Structure 112
113
PLATE 58— Structure 112— Cellar Details
west margins of this tiny room are not bonded into either the
porch foundations or those of the main south wall.
Room B is the designation assigned to the front porch area.
There are relatively heavy walls on the east, south, and west
sides, but only a single line of bricks — placed side by side
and broken by a gap of almost 6 feet — locates the north edge
of Room B. The porch foundations are 19 to 20 feet wide and
extend outward about 8 feet from the building proper. The
east wall foundation is a double one, with an opening a foot
wide and 7.2 feet long sandwiched between 2 walls of coursed
bricks.
That portion of the first-story area lying west of the interior
double chimney was labeled Room C. This area actually is
rather large (approximately 15 by 25 feet) for a single room
and may have been partitioned into two smaller ones. How-
ever, no physical evidence of any such partition was observed.
The western side of the large double fireplace heated Room C,
and the row of bricks connecting the north side of the chimney
foundation and the basement area probably marks the east wall
of the room. The architectural function of the 11 -inch-by- 3-
foot-6-inch-brick footing (?) in the southeast corner of Room
C has not been determined, but it may have supported a parti-
tion wall between Room C and Room E. No remnant of a
northern wall for Room C has survived unless it is the short,
single row of bricks near the south edge of the basement.
Rooms D and F are separated by a narrow row of brickbats
running north and south and extending underneath the tiled
pavement of Room E. The double chimney foundation, to-
gether with the partition wall foundation projecting northward
therefrom, marks the east edge of Room D. The remaining
section of the east main exterior wall foundation delineates the
east wall of Room F. The south margins of Rooms D and F
are defined by the north edge of the Room E pavement, but
there is no sign of wall foundations or other structural remains
to distinguish the northern boundaries of Room D and F.
Room G, at the west end of the basement, has a floor of
bricks laid in north-south rows. The floor level is 3 to 4 inches
higher than the floor level of Room H, adjoining on the east.
114
Left. — West end of the cellar of Structure 112, showing the double por-
tion of the west wall. Had the excellent inner wall been standing after
the initial destruction of this structure, it would have seemed logical
to build upon it, rather than upon the poorer footing outside it. Hence,
it may be more logical to assume that the original wall is the outer
one, and the inner, better wall is the subsequent reconstruction. This,
however, is conjecture, as the evidence was not conclusive at the time
of excavation.
Above. — Octagonal cast ingot of iron with loop at the top. This object,
identified as a pile-driving weight, was found lying with loop down
on the cellar floor of Room J, Structure 112.
The floor of Room H also consists largely of bricks laid in
north-south rows, but there are some irregularities in the brick
pattern, and a flagstone about 2 feet long is incorporated in the
floor on the west side of the room. Along the west edge of
Room H, a charred timber lies flush against the low step result-
ing from the higher elevation of the Room G floor. The
intact portion of the timber, which measures 6 feet 6 inches
long by 5 inches wide, extends across the south half of the
room, and is joined to a 3-foot-long timber. The shorter
timber, also charred, projects eastward at right angles. A small
segment of brick wall standing on the south side of Room H
reveals the presence of a corner at that spot. This indicates
that the room was L-shaped rather than rectangular. Traces
of shell-lime plaster adhere to the interior faces of the wall
segment.
The floor level of Room I is about 1 inch higher than that
of Room H, and the checkerboard pattern of its brick floor
sets it off from all the other basement rooms. Each checker
in the floor is made of 2 bricks laid side by side to form a
square. The squares are arranged so that the bricks in each
square are perpendicular to the bricks in all adjoining squares.
A fireplace with a brick hearth opens into Room I from the
south side. The east end of the hearth is missing, but enough is
preserved to show that the fireplace was at least 6 feet 7 inches
wide by 2 feet lO1/? inches deep. The level of the hearth is
the same as the floor level of the room. A single row of bricks
set on edge separates the floor from the hearth. On the west
side of the room, 2 small flagstones, neither more than 1 foot
across, are set among the bricks to form part of the floor.
The eastern 21 feet of the cellar is occupied by Room J.
This area is large enough to have been divided into two separate
rooms, but no indication of a partition was found. The brick
floor is composed of rows running north and south except for
a series of short east-west rows at the extreme east end of the
room. A small fireplace is situated on the south side of Room
J, and a 6-inch gap in the flooring extends across the front of
the fireplace. The hearth area is depressed about 3 inches and
has a clay floor.
About 10 feet from the southwest corner outside of Structure
112 is a large H-shaped chimney foundation. It is oriented
approximately the same as the Structure 112 house, with the
2 opposing fireplaces facing north and south. Because its
bricks are similar to those in the main building and because of
its location and orientation, this double fireplace is considered
to have been closely related to the large house. Therefore, it
has been included as part of Structure 112. The 2 arms of the
northern fireplace embrace undisturbed clay which has been
burned a deep red to a depth of 3 or 4 inches. Perhaps this
chimney was in a kitchen or other outbuilding of the main
house.
Most of the brickwork in the ruins of Structure 112 is laid
in English bond with the notable exception of the north wall
of the basement which is of a very erratic Flemish bond. All
wall foundations rest directly on undisturbed clay except the
main house wall at the west end of the basement, which over-
lies a thick zone of detritus. The mortar binding the bricks
together is similar throughout the entire structure, having the
appearance of sandy mud with inclusion of a small amount of
shell lime. The square tile pavement in Room E is set on a
bed of the same kind of mortar.
The first story foundations of Structure 112, south of the
cellar, were covered with a mantle of soil containing refuse and
building detritus. The upper 6 inches or so of this overburden
had been disturbed by plowing while the underlying material
showed little or no evidence of serious disturbance. The cellar
was filled with a compact mass of rubble made up mostly of
bricks, mortar and plaster, with a few nails and other pieces of
building hardware scattered sparsely throughout. This rubble
zone, which measured from 2 to 4 feet thick, was topped by a
superficial layer of soil averaging about a foot in depth. A
general layer of charcoal, up to 4 or 5 inches thick in places,
115
lay on the basement floor beneath the zone of heavy rubble, in-
dicating that Structure 112 must have been destroyed by fire.
After the remains of the entire building had been exposed,
bricks were removed from sections of the cellar floor to ascer-
tain what lay underneath. Here it was discovered that a clay
basement floor had been used for a considerable length of time
before the brick floor was laid down. Spread over the original
clay floor was a thin accumulation of household trash mixed
with sand and charcoal over which, in several places, layers of
clay or mortar had been added later as a base for the brick
flooring. Room G had a mortar base beneath the brick floor
and Room J had a clay base, while in Rooms H and I there
was no prepared base at all, the floor bricks being laid directly
on the old clay floor and its accumulation of trash. Perhaps
the primary purpose of the clay and mortar was to level the
subfloor before the brick floors were installed. Beneath the
tile floor of Room E also is a layer of mortar 1 to l1/? inches
thick, underneath which is a 1-inch layer of sand resting on
a zone of building debris and other trash 0.5 to 0.7 feet thick.
Artifacts recovered from Structure 112 include items of
hardware (hinges, locks, nails, and spikes) ; building materials
(flat pantiles, slate, plaster with lath impressions, ornamental
plaster, lead window cames, and glass panes) ; various house-
hold objects (pottery vessels, porcelain vessels, glass drinking
vessels, gin bottles, tobacco pipes, straight pins, and glass
beads) ; such miscellaneous items as lead shot, cannon balls,
and a 1,200-pound weight probably used as a pile driver. Only
9 wine-bottle fragments were found.
In the southwest corner of Room G, in the charcoal zone
just above the floor, 11 small fragments of a human skull
(designated Burial No. 3) were found. They are badly
charred, and their inclusion in the layer of heavily burned
material suggests that the person may have perished in the
fire which destroyed the house. No other human bones were
found in Structure 112 even though the building was com-
pletely excavated. Consequently the circumstances which caused
the skull fragments to be there must remain a mystery.
The body of the 1,200-pound weight is octagonal in cross
section, 1.2 feet high, with a big iron loop at the upper end
to which a large line could be attached. It was found against
the east wall of the basement in Room J in upsidedown posi-
tion. The big loop was buried in the clay floor and the bottom
was in an upright position like the top of a table. This heavy
weight was undoubtedly designed as a pile driver or other
weight-driven machine.
Another unusual find is a piece of ornamental plaster in the
form of a lion's head, probably a sample of pargeting from
the ceiling or the wall over a fireplace. It was unearthed in
Room A.
Artifacts
Structure 112 artifacts provide reasonably certain dating inas-
much as provenience was recorded for all significant occurrences.
Particular pains were taken to obtain all artifact evidence
beneath the brick paving of cellar rooms. Altogether four
zones were discovered beneath this brick floor. Each zone
represented a thin layer of fill deposited on the unpaved floor
of the cellar when it served the original house. Of special
importance is the evidence in Room J, where Zone 4 (the
lowest and oldest floor level) yielded 11 tobacco pipestems,
9 of which were %4 inch in diameter of aperture, 1 was %4
and 1, i%4 inch — most significantly and definitely first quarter
17th century. One stem had a "WB" initial, and it may be
relevant to note Adrian Oswald's article, "The Evolution and
Chronology of English Clay Tobacco Pipes" (Oswald, 1955,
p. 244) where we read under Chronology of Types:
1. c 1580-1630. . . . [This type] does not occur in any group after
1640. The same type was found at the bottom of the City Ditch at
Cripplegate Building in deposits of the latter half of the 16th Century.
The only makes which can be possibly identified are WB, incuse on
pipes at the British Museum and Guildhall Museum, and IR on pipes
from London, Ipswich and Worcester. The former may refer to Wil-
liam Bachelor or others and the latter to John Rogers living in Ratcliffe
Highway 1620.
Of course, these are also the initials of William Berkeley
(he became Governor in 1641), but it is not known whether
he had any of his clay pipes so initialled for his use at James-
town— initials on clay pipes are usually maker's marks — and
the types antedate Berkeley's life at Jamestown.
No artifacts found beneath the brick flooring indicate dating
in the second half of the century. The only glass fragments
are of a gin bottle and some window quarrels. Present are
earthenware vessel fragments including German stoneware,
delftware, and local lead-glazed ware — the last significantly
pointing to a very early beginning of pottery making at James-
town. Handwrought iron nails and a brass tack comprise metal
evidence.
Artifacts in contact with the brick floor surface of the cellar
are comparable to those from Rooms G, H, I, and J. This
detritus, mixed with a concentration of charcoal and other
debris from the final burning of the house, includes white
pipestem fragments of the 1650-80 period (5 — %4 ; 3 — %4.)>
delftware and Lisbon majolica, and brown-mottled stoneware.
Coarse-tempered utility earthenware from North Devon is
strongly represented, and a portion of a Chinese porcelain cup
was recovered. Metal objects comprised chiefly nails, all hand-
wrought, and of various sizes. Three hinge fragments, includ-
ing an 11 -inch strap hinge, 2 pintles, and a 4-pound solid
cannonball, 3 inches in diameter, completed the iron objects.
A fragment of braided copper wire and an indeterminate brass
button-like object were the only non-ferrous metals.
Some lath-marked plaster lying upon the floor bricks indicates
the wall dressing of the room above. Pieces of slate were
probably from the roof. Iron salts preserved a few traces of
rough cording.
The lowest foot of fill proper in the cellar above the brick
floor yielded a quantity of artifacts. Here white pipestem frag-
ments suggest a dating of about 1650 and a little later, while
116
3 pipebowls (one "EL") fit into the 1650-75 period. Other
earthenware examples show that North Devon coarse-tempered
utility ware is well-represented — better, in fact, than locally
made lead-glazed ware. A little delftware and stoneware were
present. All evidence here points generally to a dating relevant
to the final structure, although items of hardware from the
house may well antedate by several generations the objects
which were in daily use, as one could expect. A great quantity
of handwrought nails— 12l/2 pounds — was scattered through
the fill, with four strap hinges, a pintle and a number of barrel
hoop fragments. And here for the first time wine-bottle frag-
ments are encountered in small numbers, indicating a post- 1650
dating.
A large quantity of artifact material was recovered from the
mixed rubble of the cellar fill proper. From surface to floor,
tree and brush roots made stratigraphic observations difficult.
Since there is little indication of 18th-century or later occupa-
tion here, it can be assumed safely that we have again a fair
representation of artifacts belonging to the last structure at the
time of its burning. In this fill most earthenware is locally
made, lead-glazed, and only a single sherd of North Devon
coarse-tempered pottery was found. English white delftware
is present in quantity with a small amount of Lisbon majolica
and Oriental porcelain.
White tobacco pipes range from %4 to %4 of an inch in
hole diameter, with the majority %4. The bowls indicate
1650-75, with one "EL" mark present. Thus, a definite indi-
cation of third-quarter association is again present for the last
house. Metals are very numerous and hardware is indicative
of interior carpentry — doors, chests, locks, and domestic gear,
such as knives and scissors, kettles, and many barrel hoops.
Gin-bottle fragments outnumber those of wine bottles, but
evidence of both is weak. Plaster fragments are lath-marked
and roofing materials are represented by pantiles, flat tiles, and
slate, none noticeably predominant.
To obtain an undisturbed sampling of artifacts, the founda-
tion area of Structure 112 south of the cellar — the major por-
tion— was tested from 1 foot beneath the surface to the
masonry or undisturbed earth, where present. In general, the
objects found here indicate third quarter. Pipe fragments are
from 1620 through 1680. Other earthenware — delft, Hispanic
majolica, and lead-glazed jugs, local and English made — is
mid-century to last quarter. Only a few roofing-tile fragments
were noted, both flat and pantiles. Roofing slate was present.
Eight of the numerous handwrought nails are L-shaped,
possibly used for picture hooks. Hinges and pintles were few.
In the area of Room E and the wall rubble extending 15 feet
to the exterior south, a large number of brass straight pins
occurred. In the rubble south of Room B, the portico, many
window quarrel and lead came pieces were found. There is
a strong indication that the windows at least on the front
(south) side of Structure 112 were fitted with diamond-shaped
quarrels leaded into casements. However, no iron casement
fragments were found. Gin-bottle evidence in the zone be-
tween 1 foot and the undisturbed clay was present, but no trace
was found of wine bottles. Plainly, this was no tavern.
Finally, artifacts from the surface to undisturbed earth gath-
ered in tests of the foundation area prior to the uncovering of
the structure proper, show a temporal range which extends
from the second quarter into the third quarter of the 17th
century. Presumably these artifacts represent both the initial
occupation and that of the rebuilt mansion. Among the more
significant finds are over 300 white pipestem fragments with
holes ranging from %4 to !%4 of an inch in diameter (most
in the %4 to %4 range) and 14 white pipebowls, 4 of which
are second quarter. Initials on the remaining third-quarter
bowls represented are "WB," "WC," "HI," and "LE." An
iron stamp or brand with the letter "M" and a pargetry lion
head were recovered. The lion head pargetry was found in the
foundation area of Room A, beneath the humus line. A large
quantity of glass quarrel and lead came fragments was found
in the rubble south of Room B. Gin-bottle fragments (40)
far outnumber those from wine bottles (3) .
Summary
Structure 112 was a relatively large building which seems to
have been used primarily as a dwelling — at least the artifacts
associated with the structure are of domestic design for the
most part and give little indication of industrial or commercial
use. The heavy iron weight found in Room J was probably
used to power some type of machine, it is true, but since it lay
upside-down with the flat bottom in table-top position, its
presence in the basement could be attributed to domestic use
as an anvil as easily as to industrial use.
This house was certainly large enough to have been an inn
or ordinary, but there is no evidence other than size to support
such a contention. It is possible, too, that Structure 112 may
have been the Second Statehouse, but again there is no evidence
except that the Second Statehouse is thought to have been in
the same general area.
The artifacts associated with Structure 112 are of types which
were in common use during the period 1625-50; consequently
it is thought that the house was occupied during that period.
The architectural evidence reveals that the foundations were
strengthened at some unknown time after the initial construc-
tion of the building. This may indicate the addition of a
second or third story, which would naturally require a stronger
foundation to support the added weight. The detritus-bearing
occupation zones beneath the brick floor of the cellar and the
tile floor of Room E contained building debris as well as a
heavy concentration of charcoal ; this suggests that the original
building may have burned. Afterward the foundations might
well have been enlarged and strengthened when the house was
rebuilt. At any rate, two stages of construction are evident.
Final destruction of the house came about through the agency
of fire. This is clear not only from the presence of a layer
of charcoal on the basement floor but also from the survival of
the fragmentary charred timbers, also in the basement. In
117
to a
o
118
■■^^^■B
PLATE 59 — Structure 112— Conjectural Reconstruction
Conjectural reconstruction with separate kitchen at left and icehouse at right. Research by Kocher, Hudson, Cotter, and Jelks. Painting by Sidney E. King.
addition there were several pottery vessels and wooden barrels
which had obviously been resting on the basement floor when
the house collapsed. They were crushed in the welter of
burning debris which crashed down upon them as attested by
:he piles of fire-blackened sherds and barrel hoops which have
survived. Evidence indicates that the building burned before
1680, perhaps in 1676 during Bacon's Rebellion.
Architectural Details, Structure 112
Units
Room A
West wall
South wall
Room B
West wall
South wall
Description
(0.35'
type
1 course remains; V2 brick wide
of bond indeterminate.
Portions of 1 course survive; l/2 brick wide (0.35') ;
type of bond indeterminate.
2 to 3 courses; 2V2 bricks wide (1.8'); English
bond; there is 1 course of flat roofing tiles under
part of the bottom-most course of bricks.
2 to 3 courses; 2 bricks wide (1.5') ; English bond.
Units
Interior east
wall
Exterior east
wall
North wall
Main south wall
West of
Room B
East of
Room B
Description
3 to 4 course; 1 brick wide (0.75') ; English bond;
east face of this wall is neatly pointed.
3 courses; 2 bricks wide (1.5') ; first course (in
part) of bricks set on edge; English bond above
first course; a course of flat roofing tiles lies under
that portion of the first course consisting of bricks
laid flat rather than on edge.
1 course; 1 brick wide (0.75') ; type of bond in-
determinate.
1 to 3 courses; iy2 to 3 bricks wide (2') ; English
bond; 3 plaster-lined gaps* in the bricks; interior
half of foundation laid on mortar bed, exterior
half set on undisturbed clay.
4 courses; 2 bricks wide; English bond; there is a
course of flat roofing tiles between the 3rd and
4th courses, the ends of the tiles projecting an
average of about 0.1' from the exterior side of
* These gaps suggest half-timbering for the south wall of the original
house of the first half of the 17th century.
119
Units Description
the wall; in the last 4.5' at the east end, the 4th
course consists of bricks placed on edge (the
course of tiles between the 3d and 4th brick
courses being absent here so that the top of the
4th course is approximately level all along the
wall); a 2.6' gap in this wall, just west of the
southeast corner of the structure, was evidently
made when Ditch 79 and/or Ditch 80 were dug;
interior half of foundation laid on mortar, ex-
terior half set on undisturbed clay.
Main west wall 2 to 3 courses; 1' to 1.3' wide; made up of whole
and fragmentary bricks laid in short, parallel
rows ; no regular type of bond ; the portion of
this wall at the west end of the basement is rest-
ing on fill containing bricks and other building
detritus; a footing (?) 3.7' long and 1 1/2 bricks
wide (1.2') abuts against the interior edge of the
main west wall just south of the basement. (This
is alined exactly with the west wall of the base-
ment.)
Main north wall (This is identical with the north wall of the base-
ment.) 4 to 9 courses; modified Flemish bond
(irregular); 1V2 bricks wide (1.2').
Main east wall Only 2 sections remain: the first is a 2- to 3-course
section at the southeast corner of the building,
2.6' long and 1 brick wide (only the exterior half
of the original wall has survived) ; the other is a
2-course section, 7.4' long and 2 bricks wide
(1.6'), just south of the basement; part of this
wall was apparently destroyed during the excava-
tion of Ditch 79 and/or Ditch 80; English bond
employed throughout.
Line of bricks The 1 remaining course of brick fragments seems
separating to have been originally 1 brick wide; this line of
Rooms D & F bricks runs beneath the tiled floor of Room E.
Double fireplace H-shaped ; 3 courses ; English bond ; bottom course
between Rooms wider than overlying courses, projecting beyond
C & D them on all sides from 0.1' to 0.3'.
Tile flooring Floor consists of 1 layer of square, red tiles beveled
of Room E on 2 opposite edges; original tiled floor area
seems to have been at least 4.5' by 13' or larger;
flooring is laid over the southern end of the single
course of bricks separating Rooms D and F, and
also over a small trough or ditch filled with
burned detritus.
1 course; 3' long; 1 brick wide (0.75').
East-west line of
bricks at north
edge of Room C
West wall of
basement
East wall of
basement
South wall of
Room G
2 to 5 courses; IV2 bricks wide (1.4'); English
bond; patches of shell-lime plaster on interior
face.
1 to 4 courses; north portion is IV2 bricks wide
(1.2'); south portion is 2 bricks wide (1.5');
English bond (irregular).
1 to 5 courses; IV2 bricks wide (1.2'); irregular
English bond; traces of shell lime plaster on in-
terior face; west end missing.
Units
Brick flooring
Room G
Room H
Room I
Room J
Fireplace at south
side of Room I
Fireplace at south
side of Room J
Flagstones
Timbers
Mortar
Bricks
Description
1 layer of bricks in staggered rows running north-
south; floor level 0.3' higher than floor level of
Room H.
1 layer of bricks in staggered rows running north-
south; floor level 0.3' lower than that of Room G
and 0.1' lower than that of Room I; flooring is
not complete over entire room area.
1 layer of bricks in checkerboard pattern, with 2
bricks forming each checker; floor level 0.1'
higher than that of Room H but at same approxi-
mate elevation as that of Room J.
1 layer of bricks in staggered rows running north-
south (except for the easternmost 3-3' which is
of staggered rows running east- west) ; floor level
is approximately same as that of Room I; brick
flooring is missing in the southeast portion of
Room J.
Hearth composed of a single layer of bricks in stag-
gered rows running north-south except for a
single row of bricks on edge running across the
north side of the hearth; west and south walls of
fireplace are 2 bricks wide (1.3') with 1 to 2
courses remaining; interior depth of hearth is
3.7'; the maximum length of the hearth is 6.5
feet or greater, the exact measurement being inde-
terminate since the east end is missing; this fire-
place is offset to the south from the basement
proper.
Hearth is a sunken area with clay floor containing a
layer of concentrated charcoal 2" to 3" thick;
width of the hearth is 2.7', depth is 2.3'; 1.2'
north of the hearth is a gap in the brick floor,
0.5' wide, running across the entire width of the
hearth.
Flagstones 3 or 4 inches thick and 1 to 2 feet across
were incorporated in the brick floor in Rooms H
and 1(1 stone in H and 2 in I) ; 3 similar stones
were found in the rubble-covered area just out-
side the building, 2 to 6 feet south of Room B.
Portions of poorly preserved charred timbers were
found lying on the brick floor of Room G at the
west end of the room, the timbers apparently hav-
ing run north-south; at the extreme western edge
of Room H (in the southern half of the room
only) is a charred timber lying on the floor
against the small step marking the floor level of
Room G; another charred timber is joined to that
timber at a right angle 4.7' from the south edge
of Room H and runs eastward from the juncture
for 2'; plaster-lined gaps in the brickwork of the
western part of the main south wall may be places
where upright timbers stood.
Has appearance of sandy mud with a small amount
of shell lime added.
Local manufacture.
Color: Reddish tan to red
Length: 8" to 9lA", av. 8l/2"
Width: 4" to 45/8", av. 4y4"
Thickness: 1%" to 2%", av. 2^4"
120
Unit
Floor tiles
Description
All tiles are beveled on 2 opposite edges.
Color: Red
Top sides: 75/s" to 7%" square
Bottom sides: 7%" square
Thickness: Varies from lYs" to 2"
STRUCTURE 113
Structure 113 (Lot 101:102) probably served as an out-
building for Structure 112, which is situated 50 feet to the
southwest. Originally the building was about 11 feet wide
(north to south), 12.4 feet long at the south wall, and 14.3
feet long at the north wall. Several possible uses for this small
building are suggested: a meathouse or smokehouse, a milk-
house, or even a powderhouse.
The evidence consisted of a shallow wall foundation of
brick, trapezoidal in shape, with at least 2 courses of brick.
The foundation had been badly disturbed, probably by culti-
vation, but enough of the east and west walls remained to show
they had been a maximum of 2 feet 4 inches thick. The
bottom course of the west wall was made of whole bricks; the
3ther 3 walls had bottom courses of half and even smaller
brick fragments. No evidence of mortar remained. A thin
layer of brick dust about l/2-inch thick extended northward
from Structure 113 for about 5 feet. The measurable brick
showed that the range was 8^ to 9 inches long, 4 to 4%
inches wide, and the average brick was 2!/2 inches thick. Most
af the bricks were 8% inches long and 41/£ inches wide. The
Dricks were uniformly red and medium hard. The bottom
:ourse was definitely laid on clay, unprepared with sand or
nortar.
No artifacts were associated specifically with Structure 113.
From the plow zone above, which was in contact with the top
jricks, came 14 fragments of blue-on-white Dutch delftware;
2 sherds of red, lead-glazed earthenware (both dark and light
glaze) ; 5 brown-mottled, salt-glazed stoneware sherds ; a clay-
sipe fragment suggestive of 1660-80; and 3 indeterminate
wine-bottle fragments. In all, the evidence of artifacts in the
ground above and around Structure 113 suggests a date of use
vithin that assigned to Structure 112, that is, 1640-76.
STRUCTURE 115
Structure 115 was a long, narrow row house situated on a
ow ridge in the northeast part of New Town. Its long axis
s roughly parallel to the river shoreline, which is almost 500
eet to the south.
This building consists of brick foundations comprising the
i exterior walls; 2 interior partition walls (and a small rem-
lant of a third) ; 4 H-shaped double chimney foundations; a
arge single chimney foundation built against one of the par-
ition walls; a large chimney foundation built onto the exterior
wall at the east end of the house; and the remains of 2 base-
ment rooms with a connecting doorway and remnants of what
may have been a stairway leading down into the larger basement
room. The building is 20 feet wide and slightly over 160 feet
long (inside measurement). It is divided lengthwise into 4
large rooms of approximately equal length so that each room
measures about 20 by 40 feet (Jones, 1958a).
To simplify the following description the 4 large rooms
have been arbitrarily labelled A, B, C, and D, reading from
west to east; the small basement room projecting southward
from the main body of the house has been designated Cellar 1,
the larger basement room Cellar 2.
In each of the rooms A, B, and C there is a double chimney
foundation built against the north exterior wall with its 2
opposing fireplaces facing east and west. Room D at the east
end of the house was served by 2 fireplaces — 1 represented
by the chimney foundation built onto the east exterior wall, the
other by the east half of the double fireplace separating Room D
from Room C.
The chimney foundation at the east end of Room D sup-
ported an exterior chimney. Gaps were cut in the main ex-
terior wall of the building to receive the ends of the north and
south walls of the chimney base.
Cellar 1 is the small basement room adjoining Room D on
the south. Portions of the brick walls are intact on all 4 sides
of the room, ranging up to 20 bricks high in places. A gap
in the north wall provides a doorway opening into Cellar 2.
In all 4 walls the base course extends inward about 0.2 feet
beyond the overlying courses, forming a low ledge which may
have been designed to support a wooden floor. However, there
were no traces of flooring of any kind. Cellar 1 measures 11.7
by 10.6 feet, with the longer axis oriented east-west.
In the east wall of Cellar 1 — 0.7 feet from the northeast
corner of the room — the fifth course of bricks (counting from
the bottom) is missing over a distance of 5.8 feet. This is a
gap in the brickwork which extends all the way through the
wall. The floor of this gap is paved with a uniform layer of
flat roofing tiles. It has been conjectured that the framework
for a set of steps was anchored to a small timber set into the
gap, the layer of tiles serving to chock up the timber.
Cellar 2 is a rectangular room which originally measured
16 by 20 feet on the inside. The south wall, containing the
connecting doorway, serves also as the north wall of Cellar 1.
The north wall is constructed of brick with as many as 20
courses remaining in spots. Near the center of the north wall
is what appears to be the remains of a brick base for a stairway
which probably led downward into the basement.
At both ends of the east wall there are short sections of
brick walls which are joined to the north and south walls
respectively at the corners. There is no brick facing along the
rest of the east wall, although the bits of facing at each end
hint that the entire wall was originally bricked. A semicircular
depression excavated into the clay adjoins Cellar 2 to the east.
This architectural feature of unknown use opens toward the
121
PLATE 60 — Structure 115 — Excavated Foundations
122
west wall of Cellar 2 near its center. Opening into the west
wall of Cellar 2, directly opposite the semicircular depression,
is a rectangular depression which is undoubtedly related in
purpose.
Like the east wall, the west wall of Cellar 2 is devoid of
brick facing along most of its length. However, there is a
small section of brick facing at the north end which suggests
that the wall was completely bricked in the original house.
The present floor of Cellars 1 and 2 is marked by a discon-
formity between the detritus which filled the basement and a
clean, undisturbed sand, sterile of cultural material. The cellar
floor is approximately level throughout both rooms at an aver-
age depth of about 5.3 feet below the present surface of the
ground.
The tops of the extant brick foundations of Structure 115
lay at an average depth of about 0.5 feet. The overburden of
humus-stained soil, containing cultural debris, extended a foot
or so deep over the non-cellar portion of the ruins. In the
cellar area a zone of concentrated building debris extended from
the bottom of the humus-stained, surface-member soil down to
about 5 feet, where a stratum of mixed sand and clay was
encountered. This mixture extended down to the disconformity
at floor level.
Over most of the southern half of Cellar 2, at a depth of
2 to 4 feet, lay the ruins of a fallen brick wall. Its position
and the alinement of its bricks indicate that it was a portion
of either the north or the south exterior wall of the first story
in the area above Cellar 2.
Artifacts
The artifacts recovered from the Structure 115 area came,
for the most part, from 4 sources: (1) the badly disturbed,
humus-stained zone extending from the surface of the ground
to a maximum depth of about a foot; (2) the stratum of mixed
sand and clay occupying the last few inches above the floor in
Cellars 1 and 2; (3) the heavy fall of bricks, mortar, plaster,
and other building debris making up the 2 or 3 feet of inter-
mediate fill in both basement rooms; (4) an intrusive pit in
the northeast corner of Cellar 2 which was dug into the cellar
fill long after Structure 115 had fallen into ruin.
The humus-stained surface member has been badly disturbed
by plowing through the years. This disturbance has made it
difficult, if not impossible, to demonstrate any historic relation-
ship between the artifacts from this level and the 17th-century
building that the Structure 115 foundations represent. How-
ever, the artifacts from the intermediate zone of cellar fill
consist largely of building material which undoubtedly derived
from the original structure. Artifacts from the zone just
above the cellar floor probably represent, for the most part,
Upper. — Foundations being excavated ; looking east.
Lower. — Foundations completely uncovered; looking west.
debris discarded by the inhabitants of the building. However,
there is a possibility that some of the objects were thrown into
the cellar after the house had been abandoned but before the
walls and roof collapsed and sealed off the zone in question.
Thus the problem of when the roof and walls fell is important
in dating the occupation of the structure on a basis of artifact
types found just above the cellar floor.
Foundation Area West of Cellar: Units A, B, and C.
The deposit beneath the surface in the areas within the main
walls of Structure 115, designated from west to east A, B, and
C, was very shallow and included no cellars. Most artifacts
were found in the humus zone between the surface and 0.8
feet. However, artifacts were recorded separately from 0.8 feet
to the undisturbed earth (approximately 1.2 feet) in order to
test key areas. A few flat tiles, 10 in all, and 13 pantiles were
found from the surface to the undisturbed earth. Six flat tiles
with glaze marks were found from 0.8 feet to the undisturbed
earth suggesting that some of the tiles from the nearby pottery
kiln, Structure 111, may have been used as leveling devices in
the masonry.
The artifacts in Areas A, B, and C were very sparse. English
lead-glazed earthenware occurred, represented by 42 sherds as
compared to only 5 sherds of local lead-glazed earthenware.
This indicated that local earthenware manufacture may have
died out at Jamestown before the end of the 17th century.
English or Dutch delftware occurred in moderate numbers of
fragments. English polychrome was represented by 30 frag-
ments.
Tobacco pipes in the main house area exclusive of the
cellars include 7 examples of white bowls which can be dated.
One of these bowls dates in the third quarter of the 17th
century and the other 6 from 1675 to 1720. The stems, by
aperture indications, suggest dating in the last quarter to 1700
and perhaps a little beyond.
Three pieces of Oriental porcelain occurred from the surface
to the undisturbed earth.
Metal is represented in the Unit A, B, C area mainly by
nails; 150 of these are hand wrought, and 13 appear to be
machine-cut. It is notable that a few pieces of 19th-century
American ironstone pottery and 19th-century Staffordshire oc-
curred near the surface, and it may well be that the machine-cut
nails are a normal 19th-century intrusion. The remainder of
the iron specimens are of little importance except a 17th-century
wrought blade to fit on a wooden spade.
Some window glass (quarrels) and lead cames occurred in
the interior of Units A, B, and C beneath the sod.
Artifacts of Cellar 2. Cellar 2 lay beneath the east unit
of the house and was excavated in 4 zones: surface to
2 feet, 1 to 2 feet, 2 to 4 feet, and 3 to 5 feet, depending on
the continuity of recognizable deposits. In this cellar area a
large section of fallen wall from the south lay almost intact.
This wall was left as a control and was not disturbed. In the
more deeply buried portion, 2 to 4 feet, the greatest number
of artifacts occurred. Here earthenware was well represented
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by English lead-glazed with only one local lead-glazed sherd
appearing. One piece of sgraffito was found and four sherds
of North Devon coarse-tempered pottery of the utilitarian type.
More English delft than Dutch delft was found, but both
types were scarce.
Tobacco pipes are well represented by white specimens and
we find 2 bowls for the 1675-1720 period and 1 for the third
quarter of the 17th century. The stems show last quarter
dating predominant, and "F" and "LE" initials were noted on
two specimens. All of the nails are handwrought. Window
quarrels and lead came fragments are well represented. Wine-
bottle fragments occur in good numbers with some complete
enough to indicate bottles dating from 1680-1700.
There are some pieces of lath-marked plaster (plain), 2
pieces of pargetry, and 14 fragments of cornice molding.
Cellar 1. This cellar area, which lies outside of the main
structure south of the east unit and connected with it by a
doorway, was 5 feet deep and contained fill which was well
interspersed with artifacts. The deepest of five zones recorded
here shows the presence of a minor amount of earthenware of
all descriptions. Most of this is recognizably last half of the
17th century with emphasis on the final quarter. Clay pipes,
both white and brown, the latter locally made, suggest dating
between 1675 and 1720.
Of the metal objects nails are most numerous, all of which
are handwrought. One copper coin was found from 3 to 4 feet
deep in the fill ; 1 side bears the mark of William III and
the date 1695, and on the other side can be read "Britannia."
Brass is well represented by straight pins; 127 were found in
the deepest fill. Both window cames and window quarrels are
present in good numbers, the latter totaling more than 400
pieces. Wine-bottle fragments were also numerous and date
in the third and fourth quarter of the 17th century. Three
glass tumbler fragments were found in Cellar 1.
The main plaster found in Cellar 1 appears to have been
white-washed and laid against lath. Two pieces of pargetry
and an assortment of garbage bones, including game birds,
cow, and deer, were also in the fill of Cellar 1.
The inference from the artifacts associated with Structure
115 is that the building was abandoned not long after the end
of the 17th century at the latest. There is no suggestion of a
particular use for any of the building portions except that wine
was probably stored in the two cellars. Judging from the
presence of brass pins in the south cellar there was usage for
domestic purposes. No direct evidence of the use of a section
of the building as a "goale" (jail) could be found (mentioned
in the Ludwell lease of 1650).
It is particularly notable that Structure 115 in outline and
interior elements is almost identical with the integral, original
portion of the Ludwell-Statehouse group. (See Figure 5.)
About 15 feet north of Room C is Well 19, a brickcased
well which probably was the source of water for the dwellers
of the row house. Artifacts tossed into the well after it was
no longer in use have been identified and dated as mostly
belonging to the last half (predominantly last quarter) of the
17th century. If we assume that the well was at least partially
contemporaneous with the row house (and their locations with
respect to one another make this almost certain) then, by
association with the well, it can be stated that the row house
existed before 1700. The possibility that the well was aban-
doned before the house was must not be overlooked; therefore,
the artifacts from the well cannot be used to define an exact
terminal date for occupation of the row house. The inclusion
in the well fill, less than half way down, of the left leg and the
left half of a man's pelvis, challenges interpretation.
Summary. Structure 115 is the third example found at
Jamestown of a multi-unit dwelling in the form of a row
house, the other two being Structure 17 (the so-called First
Statehouse) and the Ludwell-Statehouse group (no structure
number assigned). Structure 17 consists of three 20-by-40-foot
units (same size as units of Structure 115), but differs from
Structure 115 in having the units joined along their long sides
(40 feet) instead of their short sides (20 feet). The larger
Ludwell-Statehouse group exhibits a combination of the two
styles in a sort of compound structure having the units joined
along both their long and short sides.
Structure 115 was a long, narrow building which consisted
of four separate rectangular units. Two basement rooms were
situated at the east end, the smaller one jutting southward
from the main body of the house. A. Lawrence Kocher has
made a conjectural reconstruction of the building based on
analysis of the surviving architectural features. He concludes
that the house probably stood 2 stories high and that each of
the separate units (Rooms A, B, C, and D) had its own private
entrance from the front and back and each probably was sep-
arated from the adjoining units by party walls. There was one
exterior chimney at the east end of the building and the roof
was covered with either slate or clay tiles. Fragments of both
types of roof coverings were found in some abundance, so it
appears likely that both types may have been used. Perhaps
the owners of the several units differed in their choice of
roofing material, or perhaps it became necessary to re-roof all
or part of the building and the kind of roofing was switched
at that time.
Since most of the artifacts are of domestic forms, they sup-
port the architectural study in the conclusion that Structure 115
was probably used as a dwelling (multi-unit, presumably)
rather than for commercial or industrial purposes. A typo-
logical analysis of the artifacts most closely associated with the
building reveals that the life span of the structure most likely
belongs to the period 1660-1700.
Historical References
We now come to historical references which substantiate
these observations and refer to the use and ownership of
Structure 115.
In 1680, Phillip Ludwell, Nathaniel Bacon, and George Lee
petitioned the House of Burgesses for 50-year leases on 4
127
PLATE 61 — Conjectural Drawing of Structure 115
Structure 115 was a continuous row of attached houses, presumably built at one time. Evidence of 4 units, three of which were separated by
remaining bases of party walls, included a partial basement into the foundation of an attached cellar beneath a porch at the east end facing south.
Historical references indicate that units of Structure 115 were owned at various times by Philip Ludwell, Nathaniel Bacon, Sr., and by the government
for use as a jail. Research by Kocher, Hudson, Cotter, Jelks, and Powell. Painting by Sidney E. King.
adjoining houses in "James Citty." Phillip Ludwell was
granted a lease on "the two houses . . . now lyeing in ruines,
the One that house where the goale [jail] was kept And the
other that next adjoyning to it, together with the lands belong-
ing to them." Both Bacon and Lee desired "The two houses
on the East End of those lately granted to Coll. Phillip Ludwell
and now lyeing in ruines" (Mcllwaine, 1914, p. 152), so it
was decided that "... Its most fit Mr Auditor Bacon should
have his desire in the said Houses, & Mr Lee the other House"
(Mcllwaine, 1918, Vol. 1, p. 10). Bacon apparently desired
the "house which did belong to Mr (Richard) Auborne"
(the second house from the east end), so the easternmost house,
"formerly possessed by . . . Arnall Cossina," was leased to Lee
(Mcllwaine, 1914, pp. 142 and 152). In 1676 an order was
given to rebuild the houses wherein Richard Auborne and
Arnold Cassinett lately lived in "James Citty" which were
burnt in the Rebellion.
That these 4 houses are Structure 115 becomes apparent
from a deed recorded 5 years later (1685) by which George
Lee obtains title to property enclosing his houses. The descrip-
tion of the three-fourths of an acre tract is as follows: "Lyeing
in James Citty being formerly estate of Thomas Woodhurst
deced bounding upon the land of Mr William Sherwood
Easterly; And as farre as the two houses extend of the said
George Lee the one being by him built and inhabited the
other ruinous being Westerly; As farre as ye Common road
Southerly & to the outside of the said two houses North-
erly . . ." {Virginia Historical Society Ludwell Papers, I, No.
109). The eastern wall of Structure 115 lies approximately
200 feet west of William Sherwood's property line of 1685.
A tract from the western wall of the easternmost house east-
ward to Sherwood's line and southward to the approximate
location of the "Common road" (Back Streete?) would be the
proper size.
Subsequently, the property containing Lee's houses passed to
Robert and George Nicholson in 1692, to George Harvey in
1696, to Thomas Hadley in 1697, to Hadley's wife Dyonesia
in the same year, and to John Tulleta in 1698 (Virginia His-
torical Society Ludwell Papers, I, Nos. 92, 94, and 109).
Architectural Details of Structure 115
Unit
North wall foun-
dation (ground
floor)
South wall foun-
dation (ground
floor)
East exterior wall
foundation
Description
1 to 5 courses remain; 2 bricks wide (1.6'); Eng-
lish bond; the bottom course is composed largely
of brickbats and, on the south side of the wall,
projects 0.1' to 0.3' beyond the overlying courses.
1 to 4 courses; 2 bricks wide; English bond.
2 to 4 courses remain; bonding irregular; wall com-
posed largely of fragmentary bricks; 2 bricks wide
(1.6') ; holes were cut in the wall for the ends of
the large exterior chimney foundation to be fitted
into.
West exterior wall 2 to 4 courses remain; English bond; 2 bricks wide
foundation (1-6').
128
Unit
Partition wall
between Rooms
A and B
Partition wall
between Rooms
B and C
Partition wall at
east end of
Room C
Double fireplace
in Room A
Double fireplace
in Room B
Large single fire-
place at west
end of Room C
Double fireplace
at north wall
of Room C
Double fireplace
at east end of
Room C
Large exterior
fireplace at east
end of building
Description
1 to 2 courses remain; bottom course is IV2 bricks
wide (12'); 2d course is 1 brick wide (0.8');
bottom course is English bond ; 2d course is Flem-
ish bond.
1 to 3 courses remain; bottom course is lx/2 bricks
wide (1.2') and is made of brickbats laid irregu-
larly; 2d and 3d courses are 1 brick wide (0.8')
and are of erratic Flemish bond; a large single
fireplace opening into Room C lies with its west
edge flush against the east edge of the partition
wall.
A tiny fragment of what may have been a partition
wall at the east end of Room C adjoins the north
wall at a spot 40 feet east of the west wall of
Room C; a portion of 1 course remains; 1V2
bricks wide (1.2') ; type of bond indeterminate.
1 to 4 courses remain; the south and center fireplace
walls are 2 bricks wide (1.6') ; the south wall is
of English bond; the bonding of the other walls
is indeterminate; the north wall is 1 brick wide
(0.7' to 0.8') and lies flush against the south side
of the north exterior wall ; only a layer of brick
and mortar rubble marks most of the north and
center walls; maximum inside measurements for
east fireplace are 7.5' by 3.4'; maximum inside
measurements for west fireplace are 7.5' by 3-3'.
2 to 4 courses remain ; English bond throughout ;
south and center walls are 2 bricks wide (1.6') ;
north wall is 1 brick wide (0.8') and the 4th
course is bonded into the north wall ; maximum
inside measurements for east fireplace are 7.5' by
3.5'; maximum inside measurements for west fire-
place are 7.6' by 3-4'.
1 to 3 courses remain; north and south walls are 2
bricks wide (1.6'); west wall is 1 brick wide
(0.8'); composed largely of brickbats; bonding
irregular; west wall is mortared to east edge of
partition wall but is not bonded into it; maximum
inside measurements are 9.8' by 4.6'.
1 to 3 courses remain; north wall is 1 brick wide
(0.8') ; south wall is 2 bricks wide (1.6') ; center
wall is 2 to 2l/i bricks wide (1.6' to 1.9') ; Eng-
lish bond employed throughout ; maximum inside
measurements of east fireplace are 7.5' by 3.4';
maximum measurements of west fireplace are 7.5'
by 3.5'.
1 to 3 courses remain; south wall is 1.6' to 2' wide
and is composed largely of brickbats; center wall
is 2 to 2% bricks wide (1.6' to 1.8') and is made
up partially of brickbats ; the bottom course of the
north wall is 2l/2 bricks wide (2') and the over-
lying courses are 2 bricks wide (1.6') ; maximum
inside measurements of the east fireplace are 7.3'
by 3'; maximum inside measurements of the west
fireplace are 6.9' by 3.5'.
1 to 4 courses remain ; north and south walls are 2
bricks wide (1.6') except for the bottom course
which is 2V2 bricks wide (2'); English bond is
employed throughout; maximum inside measure-
ments are 6.7' by 3.5'; the west ends of both
Unit Description
north and south walls are inserted in gaps in the
east wall of the main structure, the gaps having
been cut into the wall after the house was built.
Cellar 1 7 to 20 courses remain; all walls are 2 bricks wide
(1.5' to 1.6') ; English bond used throughout; the
bottom course projects inward an average of 0.2'
beyond the overlying courses in all 4 walls; a
doorway 4.9' wide in the center of the north wall
leads into Cellar 2 ; the projecting base course
possibly supported a wooden floor but no traces
of a wooden floor have survived; inside measure-
ments of room are 11.7' (east-west) by 10.6'
(north-south) by 5.2' deep (below present surface
of the ground ) .
Cellar 2 Inside measurements are 19-5' to 20' long (north-
south) by approximately 15.7' wide (east-west)
by 5.4' deep (below the present ground surface).
South wall 8 to 20 courses remain; 2 bricks wide (1.5'); Eng-
lish bond; a doorway 4.9' wide in center of wall
leads into Cellar 1.
North wall 11 to 17 courses remain; 1 brick wide (0.8'); Eng-
lish bond; a staircase foundation (?) 5.2' wide
lies near the center of the wall.
East wall Only small remnants of the brick wall remain (at
the north and south ends); bonded into north
and south walls at corners; there is a flat-bot-
tomed semicircular recess 7.8' by 5' by 1.4' deep
cut into the clay at the center of (he wall. (See
Figures 16, 17, and 18.)
West wall Only a small remnant of the brick wall remains (at
the northwest corner of the room) where it is
bonded into the north wall; a rectangular flat-
bottomed recess 9-0' by 6.7' by 2.2' deep is cut
into the clay at the center of the wall. (See Fig-
ures 16, 17, and 18.)
Room A Inside measurements are 20.2' wide by 40' long.
Room B Inside measurements are 20.2' wide by 40' to 40.2'
long.
Room C Inside measurements are 20.2' to 20.4' wide by 39-5'
to 40' long.
Mortar The bottom course in the exterior walls is mortared
with plain clay; the rest of the structure has
light-gray to white mortar containing sand and
burned oyster shell.
Bricks Color: Red to reddish-tan
Length, 8V2" to 9"; av. 8%".
Width, 4" to 43/8"; av. 41/8".
Thickness, 2^" to 2V2"; av. 2%"-
STRUCTURE 116
Structure 116 (Lot 95:105) comprised the base course of a
brick fireplace base measuring 10 feet wide by 5.3 feet front
to back, together with traces of wooden footing for a frame
house. The inside measurements of the fireplace were 6.8 feet
wide by 3.8 feet deep. The bricks averaged between 8% and
129
PLATE 62 — Structure 116 — Conjectural Drawing
Evidence consisted only of a brick chimney base and a series of post molds in the undisturbed earth showing the location of sill supports for a
frame house. Research by Kocher, Hudson, Cotter, and Jelks (Lot 95:105). Conjectural painting by Sidney E. King.
9 inches long by 4% to 41/2 inches wide by 2l/8 inches thick.
The bricks were red and fairly uniform, and they were medium
hard. This fireplace had opened to the east, and lay 0.8 to 1
foot beneath the surface where the elevation was 10.65 feet
above mean low tide.
A curious discovery of a bundle burial, apparently (from
osteological observation and burial type) aboriginal Indian and
prehistoric, lay within 0.3 foot of contact with the southern
arm of the fireplace. The burial lay at a depth of 1.1 feet
below the surface. (Surface elevation was 10.17 feet above
mean low tide.) Although the burial itself did not appear to
have been placed in a refuse pit, an area of refuse surrounded
the burial and the corner of the fireplace where it lay. This
refuse area was from 1 to 2 feet deep and contained cow
bones, lead-glazed earthenware (locally made), an agate bead,
a pin which appears to be of iron, and brickbat fragments.
Two feet west and 1 foot below the surface, evidently not in
the pit, a stemmed projectile of quartzite and a quartzite flake,
both aboriginal, were found. The best conjecture is that the
Indian burial was barely missed by the placement of the fire-
place masonry, and closely encroached upon by a subsequent
refuse pit.
East of the fireplace base a series of square pit postholes in
2 parallel rows extended 35 feet from the west wall of the
fireplace. When fully exposed, these square pits averaged 2.A
feet on a side. The rows ran slightly south of east from the
chimney foundation which was similarly biased. The western-
most pits in both rows converged slightly to lie beside th(
brick foundation (one on the north side, the other on the
south) and measured approximately 8 feet apart. The north
row consisted of 5 pits (the second from the west end appeared
to be an extra intrusion), and the south row consisted of 4 pits
Two of the square pits were carefully treated with water aftei
the tops had been planed off to make visible a mold within
In these pits the shadow of a circular postmold 0.8' in diametei
appeared and was traceable well into the fill of the pit.
130
Thus it may be conjectured that the house which was joined
to the brick chimney and fireplace to the west was of frame
construction, resting on sills which were supported above the
ground by short posts sunk into the ground within square
holes. (It is inconceivable to anyone who has observed frame
construction on Jamestown Island that such an arrangement of
wooden posts in the ground would have been satisfactory for
long; however, seasoned oak posts could have remained service-
able for a quarter century or more, which would have exceeded
the life expectancy of most houses of any type at Jamestown.)
On both the northern and southern rows of postholes the
measurement between the centers of the end holes is 29 feet.
It may thus be assumed that the house sides which rose above
these molds were approximately 30 feet long. The width of
the house is not as easily determined, since the eastern end
measures approximately 16 feet between the end molds, and
the measurement between the western end molds is 15 feet.
However, it is reasonable to suppose the width of the house
was approximately 16 feet. No walkways were discovered in
connection with Structure 116, and it might be assumed that
the doorway was most logically on the east end opposite the
chimney and facing a road or lane across Ditch 8, or on the
southern side facing the river. However, we have cultural
tradition of the late medieval builder of England to consider
here, instead of modern logic. Accordingly there were prob-
ably 2 doors — 1 centered in each long side of the house on
the northern and southern sides.
Two round postholes in the central area of Structure 116
are of doubtful structural significance. Probably they are
modern.
Artifacts
A number of artifacts were recovered above and in the
vicinity of the brick fireplace foundation to a depth of 1.5 feet.
Since only one fragment each was found to represent flat roofing
tiles, pantiles, and floor tiles, we may assume that these were
not necessarily used in the construction of this house. The
only other structural evidence is a collection of 20 wrought-iron
nails, from 1 inch to 3 inches long, and 4 pieces of roofing
slate.
Objects of daily use were mostly from the refuse area in
the vicinity of the fireplace foundation and close to the bundle
burial. These artifacts include a few fragments of locally
made, lead-glazed earthenware, some Dutch and English delft-
ware, both Oriental and English porcelain (the latter 18th
century), a modern steel pin, and a number of wine-bottle
fragments. Only 1 gin-bottle fragment was found. Since the
artifacts include some from the disturbed sod zone, the 18th-
and 19th-century evidence can be accounted for. Wine-bottle
evidence indicates 2 sherds possibly before 1675, 7 from the
last quarter of the 17th century, and 2 from the 19th century.
The best dating evidence comes from the collection of 22
white tobacco pipestem fragments which indicate a range in
the last half of the 17th century, with most specimens from
the last quarter.
Conclusion
The evidence at Structure 116 and vicinity shows the pres-
ence of a frame structure on wooden footings sunk into post-
holes. A brick chimney and fireplace stood at the east end.
The structure by its design may have characterized houses con-
structed before the middle of the 17th century. But all asso-
ciated artifacts signify usage in the last quarter of that century.
Archeological evidence is that Structure 116 was a house of
modest design which was built and used in the last half of the
1600's.
STRUCTURE 117
Structure 117 consists of a brick-walled basement and rem-
nants of 3 ground floor footings. It is located on the same
ridge of high ground as Structures 112 and 115, and lies
between those buildings.
There are 2 connecting basement rooms in Structure 117:
a large one (23V2 by 15l/2 ^eet inside measurements) with
brick floor, and a tiny one (6% feet square on the inside)
with a charred wooden floor. The small room opens off the
northwest corner of the main room. There is one fragmentary
ground floor footing at the southeast corner of the structure,
another at the southwest corner, and a third at the northwest
corner of the small room.
The brick floor of the large room is at an average depth of
41/2 to 6 feet below the present surface of the ground. The
surviving basement walls measure from 2i/2 to 3^ feet high.
The entire basement structure is laid in English bond (with
occasional irregularities) except for the north 18l/2 feet of the
large room's west wall which is a modified Flemish bond. In
this unusual kind of bond every second course consists entirely
of stretchers, the alternate courses being of the regular Flemish
pattern of headers and stretchers. (See Figure 19.)
The most striking feature of the main room is a series of
brick buttresses placed at intervals along the inside of the walls.
There is one such buttress at each end of the room near the
center of the end walls, and there are three buttresses spaced
along each of the longer side walls. The buttresses at the
south end of the room and the northernmost two buttresses
along the west wall are bonded into the vertical brick facing
of the basement. None of the other buttresses is similarly
bonded to the wall, with the possible exception of the middle
one of the east wall. This buttress has a plaster coating that
conceals its details. The buttress at the north end of the room
is unique. It has an interior space — rectangular in cross section
and measuring 0.5 by 0.8 feet — extending vertically from the
top of the buttress down to the floor level. The purpose of
the buttresses is not known with certainty, but they were possibly
designed to bolster the cellar walls or to support timber-
framing. There is some variation in size and shape, but all
131
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the buttresses have rectangular cross sections with side measure-
ments of iy2 t0 2l/2 feet. Most of them show evidence of
stepping in the brickwork on one or more sides.
A brick stairway foundation at the northeast corner of the
larger room leads from the outside down to the cellar floor.
The stairway was not quite 4 feet wide, and it descended a
vertical distance of approximately 6 feet. The treads were
probably made of wooden boards.
The brick-paved floor contains a shallow, V-shaped trough
passing lengthwise through the room, beginning at the south
wall and sloping gently to the north until it terminates at a
small circular hole excavated into the subfloor of clay. Perhaps
the trough acted as a drain to collect moisture and deposit it
in the hole where it could soak into the ground.
The fill overlying Structure 117 was removed completely
during the archeological excavations. This fill was made up
largely of building detritus (bricks, roofing tiles, mortar)
which extended from the bottom of the plow zone to the top
of a distinct zone of charcoal 4 to 8 inches thick. The charcoal
rested directly on the brick floor. This latter zone contained
nails and a few fragments of household utensils, but it con-
sisted mostly of charred remnants of wooden planks and beams,
jndoubtedly representing flooring and possibly other wooden
parts of the house. Although the charcoal generally had crum-
bled into small pieces, it was possible to detect portions of
fairly large beams (floor joists from the ground floor?) as well
is planks approximately an inch thick.
A charred wooden floor, with some of the separate planks
rlearly discernible, lay beneath the detritus overburden in the
small room at the northwest corner of the building. The level
jf this wooden floor was approximately 0.3 feet below the floor
level of the large adjoining room. Beneath the charred planks
ivas a detritus-filled depression extending to a maximum of
1.7 feet beneath the flooring. Several bits of roofing tiles,
nortar, and broken pottery were recovered from the depression.
Artifacts
The artifacts most indicative of the use and date of Structure
117 were recovered from a deposit of charcoal and detritus
which overlay the brick floor of the cellar to a depth of 2 to 6
nches. This deposit was excavated separately and the artifacts
were kept distinct from the material taken from the remaining
fill which extended to the surface as a mixture of brick rubble
ind earth. Artifacts from the floor to 6 inches above were too
small for more than relative dating. Yet they were time-
phased by white pipestems and by the presence of wine-bottle
fragments which show post- 1650 occupation. Eight of the
Mpestems were %4, 2 were %4, and one %4 inch. Thus the
Dipestem evidence would appear to be pre-1650, according to
Harrington's estimates. Perhaps the best conclusion is that
:he detritus on the floor is exactly at the 1640-50 interval.
This is a 10-year period during which both wine bottles
(beginning in 1640) and pipes of 1620-50 were made.
Dtherw:,se our sampling is too small to render an accurate
estimate. The next best estimate is a 1650-75 dating. This
third quarter dating comes from a consideration of the re-
mainder of the ceramic evidence which includes some English
lead-glazed earthenware and delftware and a complete locally
made, lead-glazed earthenware pot found in 1900 during a
partial excavation of Structure 117 by Louise Barney, daughter
of the last owner of Jamestown Island.
Summary
Structure 117 is the ruin of a small house with 2 adjoining
brick-walled cellar rooms and a brick stairway foundation lead-
ing into the larger room from the exterior. In the larger cellar
room there is a series of buttresses placed at intervals around
the inside of the brick wall. A shallow V-shaped trough
running lengthwise down the center of the room is incorporated
in the brick floor. The smaller room adjoins the other room
at the northwest corner of the building and has a charred
wooden floor beneath which is a detritus-filled depression.
Ground level footings outside the cellar walls at three corners
of the structure indicate that the upper walls of the house did
not rest on the brick walls of the cellar. These upper walls
could have been made either of brick or of wood. Sufficient
tile fragments were recovered from the fill of the cellar to
indicate that the roof was most likely plated with tiles. The
debris underlying the wooden floor of the small cellar room
suggests that the wooden floor was a late addition. The brick
floor of the large room, however, lies on undisturbed earth
showing that it was laid down during original construction of
the cellar.
One puzzling note is an excavation 4 feet wide along the
outside of the west cellar wall which extends down to the
bottom of the wall. It is filled with clay containing a small
admixture of humus-stained soil and some broken bricks and
mortar fragments especially near the bottom. The purpose of
this excavation is not clear. Possibly the builder excavated for
the cellar, then, deciding to make the house smaller than
originally planned, he might have placed the west wall 4 feet
inside the edge of the excavation and filled in behind it.
The evidence, in any event, suggests that the structure was
a dwelling with brick-walled cellar and framed upper con-
struction. The weatherboard was probably of riven planks.
There is a possibility that all the walls were made of brick,
but the footings are so narrow that frame construction appears
more likely.
Possibly associated with Structure 117 are 2 wells, the brick-
cased Well 18 and the uncased (possibly unsuccessful) Well
23, both lying 40 feet west and within 20 feet of each other.
Artifacts from Well 18 indicate the last half of the 17th cen-
tury and very probably the last quarter. Artifacts from Well 23
are definitely earlier, the lowest fill containing a pipebowl
characteristic of the first quarter, the upper fill containing noth-
ing suggesting a date later than first half. No wine-bottle
fragments came from Well 23, but one was found in Well 18,
confirming its later date.
133
Architectural Details, Structure 117
Unit
Unit
Main room
North wall
East wall
South wall
West wall
Buttress A
Buttress B
Buttress C
Buttress D
Buttress E
Buttress F
Buttress G
Buttress H
Brick floor
Description
8 to 14 courses remain; l!/2 bricks wide (1.2');
English bond; east end is offset 0.4' from the
north wall of the small northwest room; buttress
H is built against interior face; the north wall is
leaning inward slightly.
8 to 16 courses remain; IV2 bricks wide (1.2');
English bond ; brick stairway foundation inter-
rupts wall near north end; buttresses A, B, and
C along inside face.
10 to 16 courses remain; 1 V2 bricks wide (1.2');
English bond; buttress D against interior face.
4 to 17 courses remain; iy2 bricks wide (1.2');
English bond in the \y2 section at the south end
of the wall; the rest of the wall is a modified
Flemish bond ; buttresses E, F, and G are placed
at intervals along the interior face; the west wall
is interrupted 3.4' short of the north wall by the
doorway between the 2 rooms; there is a pro-
nounced inward curving of the west wall with the
point of maximum curvature near the center of
the wall.
1 to 5 courses; sides measure 1.5' by 1.6'; not bonded
to east wall.
4 to 13 courses; sides measure 1.8' by 2'; exterior
is coated with shell plaster, masking the juncture
with the east wall so that it could not be de-
termined whether this buttress is bonded to the
wall.
8 courses remain; sides measure 1.6' by 1.6'; in the
west face, the 7th and 8th courses are each in-
dented 0.2' to form a stepped arrangement; this
buttress is not bonded to the east wall but has
pulled away from the wall so that there is a crack
up to an inch wide between wall and buttress.
12 to 15 courses remain; sides measure 1.6' by 1.8';
in the south face, the 7th and 8th courses are each
indented 0.2' to form a stepped arrangement; this
buttress is bonded into the south wall.
1 to 12 courses remain; sides measure 1.4' to 1.6';
not bonded to west wall.
10 to 12 courses remain; sides measure 1.2' by 1.6';
bonded to west wall.
9 to 14 courses; sides measure 1.9' by 1.9'; the 9th
course is indented 0.2' on the north, south, and
east sides so that there is a narrow ledge running
around the 3 open sides ; buttress is bonded to the
west wall.
1 to 4 courses remain; sides measure 1.6' by 2.3';
not bonded to north wall ; a completely enclosed
rectangular space (0.5' wide by 0.8' long) runs
through the buttress vertically along the face of
the north wall.
A single continuous layer of bricks covers the entire
floor area of the main room except for a small
round hole in the north part of the room. The
floor bricks are laid in 2 basic patterns — (1) par-
allel, adjacent rows, as in the east-central area
(see Figure 19), and (2) a herringbone pattern
Small northwest
room
North wall
East wall
South wall
West wall
Wooden floor
Description
as in the northeast, southeast, and southwest cor-
ners. A narrow strip of the floor bricks forms a
shallow V-shaped trough which runs nearly down
the center of the room in a north-south direction.
Near the north wall, in the V-shaped trough, is a
roughly circular hole in the floor 1.3' deep with
an average diameter of 2.4'. The brick flooring
appears to extend underneath all of the but-
tresses; the floor is laid directly on a thin bed of
mortar approximately 0.1' thick which, in turn,
rests upon undisturbed clay.
11 to 20 courses remain; 1V2 bricks wide (1.2');
English bond.
4 to 9 courses remain; iy2 bricks wide (1.2');
modified Flemish bond; interrupted 3-8' short of
north wall by doorway leading to main room ; this
wall is shared with the main room.
14 to 17 courses remain; 1V2 bricks wide (1.2');
English bond; wall is slightly curved inward;
there is a layer of shell mortar about 0.1' thick
underlying the west 1' of the wall; a l"-thick
prepared layer of clay underlies the rest of the
wall in a rather irregular fashion.
16 to 19 courses remain; 1V2 bricks wide (1.2');
English bond ; a prepared layer of clay underlies
the south 4.5' of the wall.
The northwest room contains the remains of a
charred wood floor consisting of planks approxi-
mately 0.1' thick and 0.5' wide running east-west.
The charred remains are roughly centered in the
room, leaving a continuous gap around the floor-
ing and separating it from the 4 walls (the gap
varies from 0.6' to 1'). The flooring appears to
have been at about the same level as the bottom
of the brick flooring in the main room. A detri-
tus-filled depression up to 1.7' deep lies directly
beneath the wooden floor. The perimeter of this
pit follows the outline of the flooring closely, but
it is a little larger, and extends beyond the floor-
ing on all sides and averages 0.2' to 0.3'.
Stairway at north- Top line of bricks is 5.3' above floor level of the
east corner main room ; stairway is 4.0' wide where it passes
through the east wall ; maximum over-all width is
5.3'; 13 rows of bricks remain, stepped — one
above the other — at irregular intervals; in some
cases a row will slightly overlap the row immedi-
ately below.
Footing at south- 3 to 4 courses remain; IV2 bricks wide; 7' maxi-
east corner mum length; bottom course of footing at same
level as 13th course of basement walls.
Footing at south- Badly deteriorated; 5 courses remain; bottom course
west corner at same level as 13th course of basement walls;
sides measure approximately 1.2' by 1.2'.
Footing at north- Badly deteriorated for the most part; 1 course re-
west corner mains; at same level as 18th course of basemen!
walls; 1 to 2 bricks wide; north edge alined with
and contiguous to the exterior edge of the north
wall of the small northwest room.
134
Unit Description
Mortar Under floor bricks and in walls and buttresses of
main room the mortar is sandy, tan in color, and
contains bits of shell and some charcoal ; the tan
mortar is quite friable; in the northwest room
the mortar contains shell and charcoal, is white,
and is relatively hard.
Bricks Local manufacture; hand molded.
Color: dark-salmon to deep-red
Size No. 1 (walls of main room and buttresses B
and G)
Length, 8Vs" to 8%", a v. 83/8"
Width, 37/8" to 43/8", av. 4V8"
Thickness, 2" to 2%", av. 23/8"
Size No. 2 (north, south, and west walls of north-
west room; also buttress F)
Length, 8i/4" to 87/8", av. 8%"
Width, 4" to 43/8", av. 4y4"
Thickness, 2l/4" to 2%", av. 2%"
Size No. 3 (buttresses A, C, D, E, and G)
Length, sy2" to 95/8", av. 9"
Width, 4" to 41/2", av. 41/4"
Thickness, 2^" to 25/8", av. 23/8"
STRUCTURE 118
It is difficult to say whether or not Structure 118 (Lots
94:105 and 94:106) is actually the evidence of a building.
It is possible that an analogy may be offered between Structure
118 and Feature 1 of Lot 100:98, west of the Tercentenary
Monument, since both appeared to be elongated burned sur-
faces about 10 feet wide.
Two parts to Structure 118 were noted. Lying at right
angles to each other, these are: The unit designated 118A
lying in a NW-SE axis, and 118B lying in a NE-SW direc-
tion. Structure 118A was approximately 15 by 11 feet and
Structure 118B, 35 by 9.5 feet. The 2 units lay 11 feet apart,
and each was from 1 to 2 feet below the surface, the burned
top being approximately 1.5 feet deep for 118B and 1 foot
for 118A.
During the excavation of Structure 118, 2 square post
molds (1.5 by 1.5 feet) were observed beside the B unit, to
the west. This area was further explored in search of a post-
mold pattern that would establish evidence of a frame house
related to the burned floor. An area 40 feet to the east and
25 feet to the west was cleared with a bulldozer to an average
depth of 1 foot below the surface. Although a new rec-
tangular burned "floor" area (A unit) was found to the west,
no trace of any mold pattern was noted east of the first test.
However, additional post molds, also rectangular, were found
in the original line, extending at least 50 feet and averaging
9 feet apart, center to center. As Structure 118A was devel-
oped, a second line of comparable post molds was found to
extend parallel to the first line and to Ditch 8 which lay
between. Thus, it may be concluded that 2 lines of molds
probably represent fence lines on either side of Ditch 8.
Structures 118A and 118B are both undoubtedly precedent to
these fence lines, and may represent the burned clay floors of
frame structures which lacked any remaining foundation
evidence.
In the shallow old humus line beneath the modern plow
zone a small number of artifacts was retrieved above the
respective burned areas. A white pipebowl dated from 1660
to 1680, a piece of Italian sgraffito, a Dutch brick, a bit of
wrought-iron hardware (probably from a wallbracket), and 5
indeterminate wine-bottle fragments indicated the last half of
the 17th century. And in the superficial earth, 18th- and
19th-century stoneware traces and a 19th-century wine bottle
were found.
STRUCTURE 119
One of the most baffling structural fragments at Jamestown
was uncovered by an exploratory trench 40 feet west of Struc-
ture 17, 60 feet from the 1935 river bank, and 2 feet west of
Ditch 8 (see Lot 94:105). Remnants of a single course of
flat-laid brick, 2.6 feet wide maximum, form a small, rec-
tangular structural outline. Its southeast and northwest sides
are 14 feet apart. A trace of a single course of masonry
remains to the northeast. The southwest wall, if it existed,
has disappeared. It is possible that these single courses repre-
sent either the basal member of the walls of a rectangular small
shop building or traces of a paved walkway around a pit.
The central feature of this problematical structure was a
long, narrow pit excavated well into undisturbed clay. It was
rectangular in shape, 19.2 feet long and had an average max-
imum width of 7.5 feet. The outline of the pit became visible
2 feet below the surface, and from that level to the bottom of
the pit averaged 1.8 feet. Orientation of the long axis of the
pit was approximately NNE-SSW. A narrow bench of un-
disturbed clay ran completely around this pit about 0.5 feet
below the surface of the rim or 2.5 feet below the surface of
the ground. The bench was 1.5 to 2 feet wide and had a
vertical wall at its inside edge running down to the bottom of
the pit, making the deep portion of the excavation encom-
passed by the bench slightly over 4 feet wide and approximately
16 feet long. The surface of this inner pit was very hard and
well defined. In certain areas the floor appeared to have been
subjected to moderate heat, but there was no evidence of
intensive firing, and it cannot be inferred that fire was ever
made on the actual floor.
At the south and north ends of the inner pit (equidistant
from the east and west walls) brick traces were recorded, 2
courses of 3 bricks each, at the south end laid flat to form a
tiny paved area. One course of two bricks at the north end
formed a paved area 0.7 foot square. At the south end of the
pit the bricks are laid at floor level. Immediately behind the
bricks a roughly square (average 0.6 foot to a side) post mold
or flue extended upward through the clay wall to the surface
of the pit. At the north end the bricks are set on earth fill
0.8 foot above the floor of the inner pit.
135
Opening into the southeast side of the long pit is an appar-
ent fireplace (B) consisting of a more or less rectangular pit
dug well into the undisturbed clay, with a floor continuous
with that of the long pit and at the same level. Portions of
the northeast and southwest walls are lined with brick. The
masonry consists of 13 courses, 0.7 foot (2-brick- widths) wide,
except for the 2 top courses which are 3-brick-widths wide.
The length of the 2 wall remnants is 1.8 feet, respectively.
The unbricked clay walls of the sides and rear of the fireplace
are heavily fired to a brick red. The fireplace is 4.3 feet wide
at the opening and 3-6 feet at the back. The depth, opening
to back, is 3.9 feet.
A small pit (A), rectangular in outline, interior walls heavily
fired, was located 3.5 feet west of the midway point of the
northwest side of the rectangular pit of Structure 119. Tnis
small pit was dug into the undisturbed clay to a depth of 2.6
feet below the surface. The top became visible at 1.4 feet
below the surface. The bottom 2 to 3 inches of the small pit
contained charcoal and ash, indicating use as a firepit or that
a timber had almost entirely burned within the mold. The pit
was 1 foot wide and 1.3 feet long, and the long axis is parallel
to that of the large adjacent pit.
At the northeast end of the large pit, 2 feet beyond the rim,
a rectangular post mold 1.4 feet square lay with a trace of
brick footing or walk between it and the pit. Two other
square post molds lay close to each other at the southern end
of the southeast side of the large pit. The fill of a pit,
5 by 3 feet, lay 3 feet below the single course of brick at the
southeast side of Structure 119. No diagnostic artifacts were
found in this pit.
Artifacts
Unfortunately, the artifacts found associated with Structure
119 do not seem to indicate any particular use, manufacturing
or otherwise. They may as well have been found in a simple
dwelling. The pantile sherds in the upper deposit most prob-
ably were derived from nearby Structure 17, where many were
found. Even the evidence contained in the fill of the pit in
front of the firebox or furnace does not appear especially
meaningful ; indeed, it may represent an accumulation of trash
and debris from the surrounding area after the complete de-
struction of the feature. In any event, this fill contained
wine-bottle fragments, bits of roofing slate, a bale seal of lead
stamped with the number 104, a musket ball 20l/2 mm. in
diameter, an indeterminate copper coin of half-penny size,
some handwrought nails, and 3 white pipestems which could
indicate mid- 17th century and later.
The balance of artifacts suggests, chiefly by tobacco-pipe and
wine-bottle fragment evidence, a dating from 1650 to the end
of the century.
Associated Features
A meaningful association for Structure 119 is still in doubt,
pending its identification. It can only be surmised that this
structure may have some relationship with Structure 17, located
40 feet to the west. The depth and magnitude of the fireplace,
or pit, and the extreme heat generated in it, would seem to
preclude the location here of a smokehouse. The artifacts are
apparently not diagnostic of any particular use. Since they
belong to the latter 17th century, it appears that the structure
may be contemporaneous with the majority of artifacts found
in Structure 17.
Ditch 8 lies within 2 feet of the southeast footing or walk
of flat-laid brick. The proximity of this ditch may be signifi-
cant if it can be determined whether or not the ditch represents
a property line related to Structure 119 or other buildings in
the vicinity. However, a ditch dug that close to an existing
structure is improbable, and it is evident that the ditch was
built either after the structure was abandoned or before it was
built.
The very dubious Structure 118 — 55 feet from the north —
may represent the floor of a burnt frame barn, or shed, which
could have some relationship to Structure 119 if it were a
workshop.
Summary
It seems probable that Structure 119 was a workshop of some
kind which required a fireplace capable of producing a hot fire.
The nature of associated artifacts does not suggest a forge,
since metal refuse is lacking, nor does it suggest a kiln. More
probably the structure could have served as a brewhouse oi
distillery. Related artifact evidence indicates dating in the
second half of the 17th century.
STRUCTURE 121
Problematical evidence of brick rubble in a horseshoe curve,
covering an area 40 feet north-south and 30 feet east-west at
a depth of 0.8 to 1.2 feet from the surface, constitutes Struc-
ture 121. If a brick rubble path is represented, it could have
been associated with Structure 16 (30 feet to the west), oi
with several indefinite structure traces (Structures 120, 40, 42,
45, and 51) located a short distance away to the south, toward
the river. Refuse Pit 2 extends from a distance of only 10 feet
to the east, also within Lot 95:104.
Artifacts from 1 foot to the undisturbed earth within this
area included a fragment of gin bottle, 2 bits of wine bottle,
indeterminate as to type, a piece of window glass that could be
17th century, a sherd of blue-on-gray stoneware, a sherd of
19th-century earthenware, 3 handwrought nails, and 2 machine-
cut spikes. From the surface to the top of the brick rubble
were found 50 pieces of wine bottles, mostly 18th century, with
a few possibly 17th century, 12 fragments of 18th-century
white clay pipestems, a piece of 18th-century stoneware, and
several bits of 18th- and 19th-century porcelain.
Little can be surmised with confidence here except that some
136
type of walkway may be represented which could date from
either the 17th or 18th century.
STRUCTURE 122
Structure 122 is the designation given to a problematical
basal course of bricks, 80 feet long and 1.5 to 4 feet wide.
It is located in the bottom fill of a somewhat widened section
of Ditch 66 in Lots 98:102, 98:103, and 97:103. The bricks
of this basal course were laid on edge as headers end to end
across the width of the structure. The longitudinal line of
this structure was irregular. The bricks were a uniform red,
evidently well-fired and medium hard. Dimensions are within
the range of 8 14 to 8y8 inches long by 4 to 41/g wide by 2l/g
to 2% thick. One well casing brick, wedge-shaped, measured
73/1G inches long by 4% inches wide at one end, 3^4 inches
at the other, and 2]/4 inches thick. Ditch 66 was 4 to 5 feet
wide at the top of the undisturbed clay as it met the old
humus zone, and was traceable from 1.5 to 2.5 feet below the
1955 surface. The bricks were laid on clay, with the bottom
of the ditch dropping slightly on either side.
Two possible interpretations of the purpose of this structure
have been considered. One, offered by J. C. Harrington in
March 1957, is that this is the basal course of a brick drain,
the top of which has disappeared. The second, pondered but
not regarded as conclusive, is the writer's who wrote the fol-
lowing field note:
3/14/57. In extending Ditch 66 westward for exhibit in the 1957
celebrations, the landscapers opened 39 feet of Structure 122 west of the
E 103 line (bringing the total length, plus the 1955 findings, to 80
feet). The brick pattern (bats laid on edge — almost none complete)
was again recognized and a section was made at E 10285 to examine the
profile. It was demonstrated clearly that the brick course was not a
drain or a drain covering, as in Structure 33 and Structure 56. The line
of bricks still appeared to be a base course, although it is so irregular
both in level and in outline possibly due to settling, that no structure
could be erected on it today. It could be assumed that in its original
form, with proper levelling, it served as a footing for a brick wall.
(The large quantity of small brick fragments on either side of the
present line to the north and south indicates a wall above may have been
destroyed.)
If Structure 122 was indeed a wall, it would have been a
ha-ha wall, comparable to that to be seen at Stratford Hall
(Robert E. Lee's birthplace in Westmoreland County, Va., on
the Potomac River). A ha-ha wall is a low brick wall set
within a ditch so as to be out of sight and yet remain effective
in keeping livestock from crossing the ditch.
Neither of the two possible explanations is unreasonable,
and it is the present opinion (1957) of the writer that neither
can be proved.
No artifacts of definitive character were recovered from
association with Structure 122. The total of finds consisted
of 3 flat roofing tiles of local manufacture; 2 sherds of red,
lead -glazed (inside) utility earthenware, probably made locally;
and 3 handwrought iron nails. From evidence found in the
fill of the east end of Ditch 66, near the juncture with Ditch 9,
it appears that this ditch was open, probably, from 1675 to
1700.
STRUCTURE 123
This structure was a small foundation (92:109) located north
of Structure 125. It is a simple rectangle measuring 20.4 by
30.4 feet overall (18 by 28 feet inside measurement) with a
stairway access to the cellar from the outside through the south-
west wall (Jones, 1958c). The cellar is the full extent of
the rectangle, with a brick-paved floor an average of 4 feet
below the present surface. The paving is constructed to slope
slightly from the sides to the middle and toward a small
bricked square recess in the southwest end of the cellar floor.
The masonry of Structure 123 is English bond of good
quality, well laid. The mortar is white, made with burned
oyster shells and sand, and is still strong. The bricks are
relatively uniform in size and quality, well-fired, medium hard,
and in good preservation.
When sectioned across the middle, the fill above the founda-
tion showed that the house, after being abandoned, evidently
was .dismantled for brick salvage as far down as the brick
could be obtained conveniently, leaving the foundation walls
standing with 2 to 5 courses above base. Directly above the
brick floor of the cellar lay a deposit of refuse and brick
fragments to a depth of 0.5 foot. This was labeled Zone B.
Above this zone lay a deposit of clean clay earth piled up
against and over the remaining foundation walls and sloping
to the center of the cellar, as if the foundation had been partly
filled from the sides soon after demolition. Zone B did not
contain a high enough concentration of carbonaceous detritus
to show definitely that the building had burned. No charred
timbers were found on the floor and the few nails recovered
from this zone were well-rusted and heavily encrusted. They
did not have the clean, hard surface of iron which is usually
found in a burned structure. In Zone B only 1 flat tile frag-
ment and 2 pieces of roofing slate occurred. In the general
fill were 5 fragments of window glass.
Above Zone B and the clay fill over it, lay a lens of
charcoal-stained earth, Zone A, with evidence of heavy burning
at the base where the clay was fired a deep red. Thus, it is to
be inferred that a hot fire was kindled in the partly filled pit
of the Structure 123 foundation. Then this pit, with the fire
evidence, was ultimately filled with relatively sterile earth and
leveled, after which the modern humus was established. In
removing fill from the southeast quarter of the cellar, work-
men recovered a French copper coin dated 1772 from Zone A,
lower portion, about 2 feet from the east wall and 1.5 feet
above the floor. This coin could have been dropped by a
soldier in the troops under St. Simon's command when they
landed and bivouacked there en route to Yorktown in 1781.
The assumption would be that Structure 123 was at that time
137
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PLATE 63— Structure 123
This small frame building with cellar walls of brick was probably in use beyond the turn of the 18th century. In this reconstruction, the chimney
is entirely conjectural. Research by Kocher and Cotter. Painting by Sidney E. King.
in ruin, with only the foundation hole showing. The bottom
of Zone A shows evidence of firing as if a large fire had been
built in the hollow. The bivouacking soldiers may well have
made such a fire, and the coin could have been dropped at the
edge of the foundation.
Artifacts
The evidence of objects at Structure 123 indicates that con-
siderable quantities of wine were stored and used on these
premises in the latter part of the 17th century. Within the
house area itself, no less than 287 pieces of wine bottles
occurred, with enough complete bottle shapes to define types
common from third-quarter 17th century to first-quarter 18th.
The most significant find of bottle evidence, in the box-like
recess beneath the floor level, produced two bottles having the
straight sides of first-quarter 18th century. It may be worth
noting that, since Jamestown was a far outpost of civilization
and manufactured goods were at a premium, wine bottles were
expected to serve many fillings from the cask and, with good
fortune, last a good many years. Furthermore, the fill of a
ruined cellar could be expected to include debris of broken
bottles which accumulated both before the house was aban-
doned and afterwards when the depression accumulated trash,
thus producing a wide latitude in dated objects.
Tobacco-pipe evidence again is perhaps the best evidence for
dating. According to Harrington's estimate of stem diameters,
the prevalence of small stems (25 — %4, 6 — %4, 11 — %4)
in the Zone B debris directly above the brick cellar floor,
indicates a dating of 1680-1710.
Associated Features
Structure 123 cannot be said to be situated in significant
association with any other feature. The nearest feature, Struc-
ture 125, is 120 feet south. Structure 86 is 125 feet north.
Structure 123 lies within a rough quadrangle formed by Ditches
6 and 7 to the west, Ditch 4 to the north, Ditches 42 and 41
139
(and farther on, Ditch 13) to the east, and several indefinite
ditch traces to the south. No wells or outbuilding traces
appear in association.
Summary
It cannot be determined from archeological evidence at this
time whether or not Structure 123 walls were frame, brick, or
a combination of both. It may be assumed that it was a
small residence with a full cellar. During the progress of
excavation it was expedient to bulldoze the top 2 feet, after
it was determined that little could be gained from excavating
this disturbed area by hand. Beyond the margins of the origi-
nal house excavation, the bulldozer excavated an average of
15 feet, east and west, but no post hole or other evidence was
observed above the undisturbed earth to indicate that footings
for frame annexes existed.
In general, the artifact material indicated last-quarter 17th
and first-quarter 18th century.
Architectural Details, Structure 123
Unit Description
Northeast wall 4 to 5 courses of English bond remain 1.1' to 1.2'
foundation wide (IV2 bricks); wall is solid, so far as exca-
vated ( 5 feet unexcavated ) ; well-laid, with bricks
uniform red, well-fired and medium hard; mortar
is good, shell-filled and white; wall is uniform,
and without openings; mortar and bricks uniform
for all 4 walls of the building; bricks range from
9" to 9lA" long, av. 9"; 4W to 4%" wide, av.
43/8"; 2%" to 2%" thick, av. 2%".
Northwest wall Most of the brick from this wall had been salvaged,
foundation apparently, so that most of wall had only 1 course
remaining above the floor level. Near the junc-
tion with the southwest wall, however, 6 courses
remained; bricks and mortar uniform, similar to
those of northeast wall; no evident openings.
English bond.
Southeast wall The middle portion of wall is stripped to 2 courses
foundation above floor level ; ends rise to 5 courses above the
floor; bricks and mortar correspond to the walls
described above.
Southwest wall 3 to 6 courses above floor; wall is comparable to the
foundation others in masonry except that it has a stairway
giving access to the brick-paved cellar from the
outside; stairway is located at the western end of
the wall and appears to have been about 3' wide,
although it is too fragmentary to afford a true
measurement.
Cellar floor The entire rectangle of the structure foundation en-
closed a single cellar without partitions; floor of
cellar was paved with flat-laid bricks oriented so
that the length of the bricks corresponded with
the width of the cellar, except at the sides, where
marginal bricks generally were parallel with the
walls. In the center of the floor a single row of
bricks was laid with long axis parallel to length
of building, so that drainage ran toward the box-
like recess in the floor at the mid-section of the
southwest wall. This box-like recess in the floor
is lined with brick and had original measurement
of approximately 1.1' on each side, forming a
square 0.8' deep. The bottom was also bricked,
making the drainage purpose questionable.
STRUCTURES 124 A AND 124B
Structure 124A (Lots 91:117 and 90:117) is a brick walk
running approximately north-south immediately west of Struc-
ture 124B, the residence erected by E. E. Barney following the
burning of the Ambler House in 1898. The house was
destroyed in 1934 and the walk was covered with a few
inches of topsoil to obliterate it. Pictures exist in the files of
Colonial National Historical Park of the substantial bungalow
which was the second Barney home. This information is
included here for future reference.
STRUCTURE 125
Structure 125 (Lot 90:110) was a substantial house indi-
cated by a main portion, a three-quarter cellar with outside
entrance, a recess lined with brick in the floor of the cellar, an
annex attached to the river side of the main wall, and a large
fireplace in the southeast wall of the main structure. Facing
the river, the house had been situated on a slight prominence
10 to 11 feet above mean low tide, just halfway between
Structure 17 ("First Statehouse") and Orchard Run. The
main foundation measured 43.5 feet outside length and 40
feet inside. (Jones, 1958d.) A fragmentary brick footing was
discovered 7 feet from the northeast wall (opposite the annex
on the river side). This footing possibly represented another
annexed structure or porch. The annex on the southwest
(river) side joined the southwest main wall, extended 12 feet,
and had a double wall on the northwest side. The front
(river) wall of the annex is incomplete and there is no trace
of the southeast wall. The walls lay from 0.8 to 4.3 feet
below the surface.
For reference purposes, well defined portions of the founda-
tions have been labeled Areas A, B, C, and D. Area A is the
originally unexcavated quarter, 20 by 8.3 feet, enclosed by
the northwest main wall of Structure 125, the northwest cellar
wall, and the southwest main wall. Area A is almost entirely
lacking a northeast wall. However, the soil indicates that a
wall footing on undisturbed clay existed here but was entirely
salvaged for brick when the structure was demolished.
Area B is the main portion of the cellar, floored with brick,
20 by 14.8 feet, the long axis across the width of the house.
This pavement slopes gently to the midportion where a rec-
tangular well, 3.3 by 3-3 feet, has been sunk to 2.7 feet beneath
the floor. Sides and bottom are lined with brick. The fill of
this well indicates its possible use for cooling wine (wine-bottle
fragments were numerous in the bottom y2 foot). The ab-
140
sence of mortar beneath the flooring bricks suggests drainage
was desired. Area B fill was characterized by brick rubble
concentrated in the first to third foot above the floor, and the
absence of evidence of burning. Rather, evidence suggested
deliberate demolition of the house. The remnant of a brick
partition separated Areas B and C.
Although unexcavated, Area C has been tested sufficiently
at its edges to show that the southeast portion of the cellar,
beyond the partition separating it from Area B, was almost the
same size as Area B (20 by 14.3 to 14.7 feet), but had no
pavement of brick. At the southeast end, the foundations of
the fireplace show an opening 7.7 feet broad and 4 feet deep,
with a burned clay floor. It can be deduced that Area B was
entered from Area C through the central opening in the brick
partition, and there may also have been access from the ground
floor, above. Area C had access through this partition, but
also had an outside opening by way of a stairway in the east
end of the southwest wall. The fireplace was used in the
cellar, and also in the upper floor, or floors. This is evident
from the burned clay at the interior of its base. It would be
logical to assume that Area C had a board floor, inasmuch as
there was no great amount of detritus above the basal sand, or
a packed clay floor above natural sand. However, there was
no evidence of boarding.
Area D, a fragmentary foundation remnant of an annex or
portico, shows that a wall parallel with the long axis of the
main structure lay 10.3 feet toward the river and was con-
nected to the main structure at the northwest end by 2 parallel
walls, 1 foot apart. The outermost of these walls was indi-
cated by only a base course of brickbats, and, since it was tied
more definitely into the longitudinal wall of the annex, it may
be assumed that this was the original wall. The annex may
have been rebuilt later and the interior wall laid down. The
interior wall was tied into neither the main wall of the house
nor the longitudinal wall of the annex. Because of its frag-
mentary nature, the size of the annex is not known.
Artifacts
The artifact evidence of Structure 125 is abundant and
meaningful, but it must be used with caution and discrimina-
tion. The most puzzling factor is the goodly number of nails
which appear to be machine-cut. From the cellar area fill,
1 to 4 feet below the surface, 18 of these precisely made nails
were taken. No less than 120 of them were taken from the
area above the structure proper, from the surface to 2.3 feet.
In these proveniences, true handwrought nails appear to be
missing. However, eight handwrought nails did occur in the
fill of the floor well below the cellar, and no machine-cut nails.
Since machine-cut nails are supposed to have been an innova-
tion at the beginning of the 19th century, some further exam-
ination of the character of the evidence may be in order.
The balance of artifacts, notably tobacco-pipe fragments and
wine-bottle fragments, definitely extend in type past the close
of the 17th century into the first quarter of the 18th. The
most reliable piece of evidence is the single white pipebowl
found on the floor of the cellar well box. This pipe could
have been made either in the last quarter of the 17th century
or the first quarter of the 18th. Since the wine bottles have
globular bodies and short necks, rather than straight sides,
they indicate manufacture not later than the first quarter of the
18th century. But none is earlier than the last quarter of the
17th. The large number of wine-bottle fragments suggests
strongly that much wine was consumed on the premises of this
structure, and the "AA" and "FN" seals — indicators of the
turn of the 17th century — may suggest identity with at least
one historical figure, Francis Nicholson. The tobacco pipestem
apertures from samples in the cellar fill range from %4 to
%4 inch — a range which could indicate manufacture from the
first to the last quarter of the 17th century and into the 18th.
However, the majority of stems belong in the %4 and %4
category, which is consistent with the wine-bottle datings.
One pipebowl is definitely of a type made from 1700 to 1725.
Of the earthenware vessels, the majority are white English
or Dutch delft. The only other numerically important type is
English lead-glazed, dark, earthenware of utility design which
occurred in quantity in the fill of the well box in the cellar
floor.
The most significant metal object was possibly a pickax of
17th-century type. It was found in the lower portion of the
cellar fill, about half a foot above the brick floor. This pickax
may well have been misplaced during the demolition of the
house — in fact, its presence otherwise in this location is difficult
to explain. Other metal objects, while numerous, are not
especially noteworthy. They include, from the cellar fill proper,
a brass spoon handle of trifid design and a casting counter
fragment, and several iron objects — a hoe, a pothook, and a
lead came.
It is probable that evidences of brickwork at the front and
back of Structure 125 indicate annexes or porticos, but the
nature of these structures cannot be determined definitely.
The cellar walls were plastered with a mortar, or rough
plaster coat, full of oyster shells. Other evidence of plaster
shows that the house walls were covered with a fine layer of
thin plaster of a white color. Lath marks are not evident in
plaster samples.
Only 13 fragments of flat roofing tiles were found, 2 of
which had mortar on them, suggesting use in wall construction.
Four were from the upper portion of the cellar fill and nine
from the lower part of the fill. No examples of pantiles,
and only two fragments of roofing slate were located in the
cellar fill. In all, the inference may be made that Structure 125
was more probably roofed with wood shingles or with flat tiles,
the scarcity of the latter being attributed to salvage for building
materials.
The salvage explanation could also account for the recovery
of but a single diamond-shaped quarrel from the cellar fill.
To the scarcity-of-glass-window evidence must be added a
total absence of leaden cames.
141
The fact that all 138 nails found in the cellar fill of Area B
appear to have been machine-cut is an important indication of
the late 18th- to early 19th-century date for the structure.
Eight handwrought nails from the fill of the floor well — no
machine-cut nails here — provide puzzling evidence, perhaps
indicating two periods of building and use.
Wine-bottle evidence from the floor well and the cellar fill
alike indicates the globular, short-necked form characteristic
of the 1660-1710 period, with emphasis on the latter part of
the period. However, the apparently machine-cut nails indicate
early 19th-century dating — unless Virginia ingenuity anticipated
the Yankee variety.
Associated Features
The closest structure is 126, located the same distance from
the shore as Structure 125, and about 70 feet southeast. This
brick ruin fragment gives no positive identifying characteristic
and it can only be postulated that it represents a small building
possibly related to the larger house, Structure 125.
A pit, irregular in outline, covers an area 6 by 16 feet and
partly underlies the northwest wall of Structure 125. (See
northwest wall description below). The use of this pit is not
known.
Summary
Structure 125 was a substantial house located on a slight
prominence facing the James River, the shore of which lay an
unknown distance to the southeast — in 1956 some 40 feet
away. Artifact evidence shows that it was occupied toward
the close of the 17th century, and very probably the first
quarter of the 18th, although the identity of the house is
unknown. The date of building is harder to conjecture — the
last half of the 17th century, at least. The two "FN" bottle
seals from the bottom of the bricked well recess in the cellar,
Area B, can be associated with Sir Francis Nicholson, last
resident Governor at Jamestown, but this does not establish
the house as his own. It seems probable that the house walls
were constructed of brick, but this cannot be positively stated
from the aspect of the foundations.
Architectural Details, Structure 125
Unit Description
Northeast wall 7 courses remain, 2 bricks wide (1.6'); courses
foundation, facing interior (cellar) are English bond; outer
Areas A, B, courses are composed variously of whole and half
and C bricks.
The interior wall, facing the central cellar, is
plastered with a rough coating of a plasterlike
material applied in swirls which are still evident,
due to the plowing effect of the shell bits in the
plaster. This contrasts with the yellowish, sandy
mortar between the bricks.
Wall is 30' long, interior measurement. This
does not include a gap at the NW end which
would, if filled, make the total wall length 40',
interior.
Southeast wall
foundation,
Area C
Northwest interior
wall foundation
Unit Description
Southwest main 4 to 5 courses remain, 2 bricks wide (1.6'); Eng-
wall foundation, lish bond fairly consistent throughout. Plaster
Areas A, B, applied to interior (cellar) wall is white and
and C filled with shell fragments, contrasting strongly
with mortar between brick which is yellowish and
sandy. Wall is 30' long. At the east end of the
wall a break appears, indicating a stairway 5'
wide to the exterior.
No joints appear at juncture of walls of porch
or portico to the southwest.
Northwest main A maximum of 7 courses remain of this wall, the
wall foundation, north half of which has a first course of brickbats
Area A set on edge, irregularly. Width: 1.9'. The south
half appears more regular. English bond, 1.5'
wide, is used for the top 6 courses, where they
are preserved. Inside measurement: 19-8' long.
This wall partly overlies a trough-like pit extend-
ing under the north corner of Structure 125. One
and a half feet of brick rubble was deposited in
the pit fill to make a footing for the wall.
First course only intact. English bond. Total wall
length, including fireplace, 20.3'. Large fireplace
in middle of wall 8' wide (interior measure-
ment) ; has walls continuous with structure wall.
The clay floor of the fireplace is burned red. Fire-
place is 4' deep, interior measurement. Fireplace
and main structure walls are a uniform 1.5' wide.
The total cellar width (Areas B and C together)
appears a uniform 20', interior measurement; but
the length, 30', does not correspond with the
total length of the house. A wall at the north-
west end encloses the bricked portion of the floor,
and a remnant of a brick partition lies 14' oppo-
site, at the southeast end of the bricked floor.
The southeast portion (Area C) of the unbricked
cellar area, however, appears to have been com-
pletely dug, as indicated by fill and the cellar
stairs in the south corner. The northwest wall is
7 courses high and is laid in English bond with a
trace of mortar on the interior face. Width is
1.6'. Area A, on the northwest side of this wall
was apparently not excavated for a cellar.
Partition remnant The southwest end of the bricked cellar floor of
between Areas Area B terminates in a single-course remnant of
B and C brick which presumably was the foundation of a
partition between Areas B and C. This partition
base course is 1 brick wide (0.8') and, from a
trace of a second course at the southwest end, ap-
pears to have been laid in English bond. An 8-
foot gap in the middle may or may not indicate
access between Areas B and C.
Fireplace f ounda- A large recess ( 7.9' across and 4' deep, interior
tion southeast measurements) in the southeast wall of Area C,
end of Area C the main building wall, represents a large fire-
place. The walls are a uniform 1.6' wide, and
are set in English bond. The clay floor of the
fireplace is burned red. Among the artifacts
found near the fireplace floor was a large iron
pothook.
Area B, Cellar The paved portion of the cellar is the northwest
half, Area B. In this pavement of a single layer
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Unit
Bricked recess in
floor of Cellar,
Area B
Area C, Cellar
Southwest wall
remnant, Area D
Northwest interior
wall, Area D
Northwest exterior
wall. Area D
Area A
Description
of flat brick, the bricks are uniformly oriented
NE-SW, except for a center row and the respec-
tive margins, where the bricks run parallel to the
walls.
Cellar floor brick rests on a bed of mortar V2"
to 1" thick which was poured on undisturbed
sandy earth. There is no evidence of occupation
precedent to the brick floor, that is, no evidence
that the cellar of Area B was used before the brick
floor was laid.
In the center of the brick pavement, the lowest
point in the floor, a square recess had been built,
3' by 3' on the sides, and 2.5' deep. Sides and
bottom had been lined with a single course of
brick, the sides the width of a single brick, and
the bottom the thickness of a brick. Although the
sides were set with mortar, there was no mortar
between the floor bricks of the recess. At the top,
the bricks lining the recess began 1 course lower
than the floor, so that a recess resulted suitable
for framing a trap door or a simple wooden
cover. Since original sand lay beneath the recess
floor, drainage between the brick would have
been easy.
The unpaved portion of the cellar of Structure 125
lies between the partition remnant adjoining Area
B and the southeast end of the structure, includ-
ing the foundation of the large fireplace. An
8-foot gap in this partition may indicate access
between Areas C and B. Access from the ex-
terior to Area C was gained from a stairway lo-
cated in the southeast end of the riverward wall.
This stairway is 5' wide. The earth floor of Area
C lies 3-9' below the present surface of the
ground. Since the interior of Area C was not
excavated, the foregoing observations were made
from aspects of the peripheral walls and the earth
profile at the partition location.
The southwest wall remnant of Area D is 15.5'
long, 3 courses remaining, English bond, 1.6'
wide. If this wall was part of a rectangular porch
or other annex to the main structure, no trace of
the southeast end of this wall or an adjoining
southeast wall was found by excavating.
This wall is not morticed into either the main wall
of Structure 125 or the southwest wall of Area D.
It stands 4 brick courses high from the undis-
turbed clay and is of English bond. Since it is
more complete than the single remaining course
of the exterior northwest wall of Area D, the im-
plication is that it is later, and represents a re-
building of the annex.
This wall, while not morticed into the main wall of
Structure 125, forms the west corner of Area D,
and may be assumed to be the original wall of
the annex. Its remnant consists of a single basal
course of half bricks 1.5' to 1.6' wide, laid on
undisturbed clay.
A rectangular space 8.2' by 19.7' is located at the
northwest end of Structure 125, bounded by the
northwestern wall and the northwest wall of the
Unit
Area B
Area C
Area D
Mortar
Bricks
Description
brickfloored cellar area. There is evidence of an
excavation for a footing at the northeast side, but
all brick is missing (except at the north corner),
presumably due to brick salvage. There is noth-
ing to indicate that Area A was intended as a
cellar, but rather that it is simply an unexcavated
space below the floor.
This is the main brick-floored cellar area, measuring
20' by 15'. It is separated from Area A by a
footing of a full cellar wall and from Area C by
the remnant of a partition marked by a remnant
of a double course of brick. The fill above the
northeast wall was noted to be relatively loose, as
if filled after as many bricks as possible had been
salvaged. Inside Area B the fill was denser and
more compacted, consisting of earth, brickbats and
fragments, oyster-shell mortar and fragments, and
large pieces of oyster shell, and some fine, white,
thin (i/g" to lA") wall plaster without obvious
lath marks. Pieces and whole bricks increase in
number and size with increased depth until the
last 1.5' above the floor, where the debris is
densest. The total fill depth from the surface is
4.3'. From lack of burning evidence, it must be
assumed that the house was dismantled syste-
matically after it was abandoned. As if to point
this inference, a complete iron pick was found in
the first foot of fill above the floor. The previ-
ously described brick-lined recess in the floor
center was filled with debris from the house until
the final one-half foot was reached. At this point
the fill appeared to be contemporaneous house
detritus, not wreckage, and contained many glass
wine-bottle fragments, including 2 "FN" seals
("N" backwards) and a British halfpenny, date
not discernible.
A cellar space, 20' by 14.5' at the southeast end of
Structure 125 was unpaved. The large fireplace
was inset within the southeast wall and a 5-foot-
wide stairway led to the exterior at the east end
of the riverward wall.
The full dimensions of this area unknown; only the
width from the main wall of Structure 125 to the
southwest wall of the annex can be measured
(10'). The double wall at the northwest indi-
cates that the annex was rebuilt, the second time
somewhat smaller.
The mortar of Structure 125, characteristically yel-
lowish, is made with shell mixed with a large
quantity of sand. A plaster-mortar of a whiter
hue, also with much shell admixture, is notice-
able on the interior surfaces of the cellar walls.
The annex interior wals also had a mortar-plaster
surface. Mortar underlay the cellar floor. Mor-
tar was not noted beneath the base course of
masonry walls.
Bricks for the main walls:
Length, 8%" to 93/s", av. 9%"
Width, 41/4" to 45/8", av. 41/2"
Thickness, 2V4" to 25/8", av. 2V2"
144
Unit Description
Bricks for stairs, cellar partition, and floor are
slightly smaller:
Length, 8y8" to 9", av. 8V2"
Width, 4" to 43/8", av. 41/4"
Thickness, 2V4" to 2%", av. 2%"
Bricks for annex or portico:
Length, 87/8" to 93/s", av. 91/s"
Width, 41/4" to 45/8", av. 43/8"
Thickness, 23/8" to 2 1/2", av. 23/8"
Main building wall bricks are medium-red to dark-
red, friable in frost.
Annex bricks are similar, trending more to medium-
red.
There are no evident color differences or texture
differences in the smaller-sized brick of the floor,
partition, and stairway.
STRUCTURE 126
This brick structural remnant (Lots 89:111 and 90:111) was
in the deeply buried old humus, based 0.4 foot above undis-
turbed earth at an elevation of 9.41 feet above mean low tide.
The location was within 25 feet of the 1934 shore scarp.
Structure 126 was too incomplete and the evidence of arti-
facts (one handwrought iron spike) too inadequate to tell the
orientation, character, or purpose. Evidence of burning is not
conclusive. There was no evidence of mortar between the
bricks. Brick dimensions, in inches, were: Length: 8% max-
mum, 8 minimum; width, 41/2 maximum, 4 minimum; thick-
ness 2% maximum, 2 minimum. The average brick was about
8% by 41/4 by 2y4 inches. Brick color was red and hardness,
medium.
STRUCTURE 127
This small brick kiln is of a type which, by implication, is
the earliest so far found on Jamestown Island. It is one of the
first kilns constructed by the settlers. The kiln was built within
a rectangular pit measuring 10.9 by 8.7 feet, with a maximum
depth of 5.5 feet from the present surface. Within the
enclosure of this pit was a remnant of the three basal courses
of what had been, in effect, a "clamp," that is, a kiln con-
structed of the bricks to be fired. The bricks were arranged
in the pit between and beside two parallel firing chambers
extending the length of the pit. Access to the firing chambers
was through two parallel tunnels between the kiln pit and a
second pit to the south. These tunnels had been dug appar-
ently to the same depth in order to provide access for draft
and fueling. ( See Plate 64.)
The two brick courses preserved within the "clamp" were
evidently a permanent base upon which the bricks were fired.
The exterior bricks, lying next to the earth wall, were not
completely fired, due to poor access to heat. The headers at
the bottom of the kiln are glazed and the walls of the kiln
above the basal courses are burned brick-red, indicating that
ample heat to fire the bricks of the "clamp" was generated.
The 2 arched access holes at the south end of the kiln pit
measured as follows: East arch, 1.8 feet wide, 2.8 feet high;
west arch, 1.5 feet wide, 2.8 feet high; both arches 4.5 feet
long, north to south, at floor level. The arches slope slightly
northward toward the kiln pit. At the south openings of the
2 access holes are 2 curbings of brick 2 courses high and 1
brick wide (0.8 feet). The east curbing is 2.4 feet and the
west curbing 2.7 feet long across the openings. This curbing
feature before the kiln openings appears characteristic of brick
kilns at Jamestown.
The patterns of the bricks within the kiln are shown in the
illustration, Plate 64. In inches, the bricks range in size as
follows: Length, 8l/2 to 9; width, 4 to 41/4; thickness, 2 14 to
2y2, with the majority of bricks slightly in excess of the
median of these measurements. Brick color is characterized by
a "fire red," and the texture is rather soft except for glazed
portions. Bricks near the hot part of the kiln are purplish
color and fired hard.
Artifacts
The significance of artifacts found in the fill of the brick
kiln, Structure 127, is that they not only serve to date the kiln
as a probable first-quarter 17th-century enterprise, but also
strongly suggest the identity and location of a small but deter-
mined tobacco pipemaking effort at Jamestown. The artifacts
also point confirmingly to the hypothesis that the first permanent
construction in "New Towne" following the spread of settle-
ment beyond the First Fort location began northwestward from
Orchard Run.
Disregarding surface and plow-zone finds and referring
directly to the 3 feet of fill between the first foot and the
bottom of the kiln, we find, significantly, not one wine-bottle
sherd, but a large quantity of gin-bottle refuse, totaling 185
fragments, including many necks and the major portion of an
entire bottle. Evidence of white tobacco pipestems, confirmed
by white bowl shapes is strongly of the first quarter, certainly
prior to 1650. These stems have apertures (in inches) as
follows: 7— %4, 24 — %4, 9— %4. Apertures of the locally
made brown stem fragments range from %4 to 1%4, but are
predominantly %4 (25); l%4 (20); %4 (12); i%4 (11);
and u/64 (7).
Several things are striking about the collection of brown
pipe fragments. Not only are the numbers startlingly large
(80 stems, 7 bowls) for such a small deposit, but the pipes
show clear evidence of local manufacture very possibly at the
kiln itself. Anyone of modest means who worked with clay
and wanted to smoke would have fashioned clay pipes by hand
and devised a simple way of utilizing the heat of the kiln to
fire them — anticipating the blossoming of American ingenuity.
Doubtless such a workman would have few scruples about
neglecting to contribute to the Crown the duty imposed upon
145
•. J*1,
PLATE 64— Small Brick Kiln— Structure 127
This small brick kiln, located in Lot 89:112, yielded a wealth of cultural objects definitive of the first quarter of the 17th century. Thus, Structure
127 is demonstrably the earliest, as well as the smallest, of the three brick kilns found thus far at Jamestown. The other brick kilns are Structures 65
and 102.
imported pipes — nor would his companions, to whom he may
have sold pipes in excess of his own needs.
The brown clay pipes have very characteristic construction
details, while showing a wide latitude in ingenuity of design.
Three of the bowls are 8-sided, giving them a unique design
which rarely appears elsewhere in the Jamestown collection —
they are undoubtedly from the hand of a single workman. The
other bowls are decorated, one with elaborate stippling which
has been filled with a white paste. The rounded bowls are
subconical and of a shape often described as "Indian." Whether
or not these subconical bowl pipes and their type were made
by Indians is not known. It is quite possible that the workman
in question was indeed an Indian. However, it is likely that
any white settler's handmade pipe would have come closer to
the Indian prototype than would the delicately rounded bowl
of the molded import types. The heels of the Structure 127
brown stems also have several examples of a Maltese cross
crudely modeled in relief. One heel has had the initials "BR"
incised by hand in the wet clay.
Other artifacts in the fill of this small brick kiln include,
by coincidence no doubt, a quartzite projectile point or knife,
and a large, plain fragment of a dish. Both are Indian manu-
facture, the ceramic specimen having shell tempering and hand-
modeling to distinguish it positively from domestic white
manufacture. (Could our Indian "workman" have possibly
slipped in a pot or two of his wife's manufacture for firing?)
More to the point, however, are 150 sherds of local, lead-
glazed earthenware, representing utility pots and jugs. Despite
this relatively large amount of locally made pottery, the ab-
sence of pottery kiln equipment such as the glaze-marked tiles
found in Structure 111 kiln area, leaves us with no proof that
the brick kiln ever was actually the scene of pottery firing.
146
The balance of evidence — parts of an English lead-glazed, dark
earthenware mug with deliberate roughing of the glaze below
the neck, English marbled slipware, possible local slipware,
delftware, and Italian majolica — is characteristic of the first
half of the 17th century.
Associated Features
Structure 127 kiln lies within 150 feet of both the shore of
the James River and the old channel of Orchard Run. How-
ever, in the 17th century the shore of the river may have been
somewhat farther away. The closest building is Structure 18,
50 feet northeast. This is a brick foundation encountered in
1934 during some of the initial explorations. Unfortunately
this structure was not completely excavated, archeologically
recorded, or adequately drawn. The only significant notation
is that the depth was from 2 to 3 feet and that the fill con-
tained broken brick, mortar, and charcoal. Ten feet north of
Structure 18 is Well 3, recorded as having a brick casing but
yielding no significant artifacts. Ditch 15, running approxi-
mately north and south, was partially traced from a point 20
to 180 feet respectively from Structure 127 kiln, but it is
certain that it did not extend to the kiln itself or overlie it.
The nearest large structure so far discovered is Structure 125 —
235 feet upriver to the northwest. Some of the kiln bricks
from Structure 127 could have been used for Structure 125,
but there is no sure way of determining this. In all prob-
ability, however, the house was last-quarter 17th century, and
the kiln, first half — thus, the bricks are very probably not
related.
Summary
Overall evidence indicates that this small "clamp" type kiln,
located in the "New Towne" section of Jamestown settlement
near Orchard Run is the oldest brick kiln yet found on the
island, and quite possibly one of the first actually constructed
there. There is also a strong possibility that handmodeled,
locally fashioned tobacco pipes of red-brown clay were fired at
this kiln. This feature, with Well 21, is positive evidence of
occupation immediately northwest (upriver) from Orchard Run
early in the 17th century, following the spread of settlement
beyond the confines of the First Fort.
STRUCTURE 128: ICE PIT
Structure 128, the problematical ice pit, was encountered
during the 1955 operations in Lot 101:102, at a distance of
55 feet east of the large house, Structure 112. The evidence
consisted of a circular pit, top diameter 14 feet, walls sloping
to a bench variously li/2 to 2 feet wide and li/2 feet from the
floor. Inside of this bench the bottom diameter of the pit was
6 feet. The pit was obviously shaped for a definite purpose,
and did not represent a well (the bottom was above the water-
line) or a borrow pit (it extended into sand). The hole had
FIGURE 22— Plan of an 18th-Century Icehouse
This drawing shows the basic concept utilized for the icehouse
(Structure 128) at Jamestown, except for the drain. Structure 128 is
definitely 17th century, but the icehouse concept in Europe goes back
probably to the dawn of history, if not into pre-history.
been used for depositing refuse, and the fill contained six
zones, designated A through F. Maximum depth was 6.5 feet.
It was first suggested that this pit could have been associated
with a powder magazine. This is not impossible, although two
pieces of evidence are against it, namely, the depth and damp-
ness of the hole. More significant was the circular bench at
the bottom, which most logically served a purpose, probably to
support a wagon wheel.
Specifically, this feature suggests the ice storage pits which
were in use in 17th- and 18th-century Britain and Italy, and
which were familiar in Virginia up to the 20th century. (Some
of these ice pits still exist in Gloucester County today, accord-
ing to Edgar Dunstan, labor supervisor at Colonial National
147
Historical Park.) A circular pit beneath a roofed housing
similar to Structure 128 is described in Encyclopaedia or a Dic-
tionary of the Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature,
published by T. Dobson, Philadelphia, Pa., 1798. At the
bottom is a well for drainage. Over this circular well a large
wagon wheel is placed, and on the wheel alternate layers of
insulating material (straw, sawdust, shavings) and ice are laid
until the pit is filled. The Structure 128 pit has a sandy bottom,
eliminating the need for a drain passage.
The six zones which could be observed in the fill were
irregular and not always complete. However, these zones did
indicate that the pit stood open for some time and collected
debris, including a number of building bricks, locally made.
These bricks could have belonged to a structure housing the
pit, but left no foundation trace. The zones and the associated
artifacts may be summarized as follows:
Zone A — 0 to 1 foot — included the humus and plow zone
and showed inevitable disturbance. Nevertheless, this zone
was notable for the uniformity of its 17th-century artifact
content. Roofing tiles, glazed and unglazed earthenware of
the locally made types, and what may be a local slipware are
all well represented. There were a few examples of Dutch
and English deltfware. Of 34 white pipebowls, 4 are second-
quarter 17th century, and the remainder third-quarter. In the
30 specimens from the later series are these stamped imprints:
"EL" (7), "WC" (4), "IH" (2), "RC" (2) "BC" (1),
"HF" (1), and 1 with a figure of a rose. As in all other
zones, brown pipe fragments are relatively few. Most of the
white pipe specimens were stem fragments, 4 of which were
decorated, and the majority have a hole diameter of %4 inch.
Iron is represented mainly by a large quantity of handwrought
nails, some handwrought spikes, and 3 strap hinges. Glass is
represented solely by 125 gin bottle fragments. It is remark-
able that such a superficial zone should be so free of post-
17th-century detritus — an indication that no later occupation
occurred in this area.
Zone B, beneath Zone A, had a maximum thickness of 1.8
feet, lensing out at the periphery of the pit. This zone con-
tained a wealth of artifact refuse. Most significant was the
mass of window glass, or quarrel fragments — 1,418 pieces in
all. The only other glass fragments were of gin bottles and
a single wineglass, Venetian style, with mask or face in relief
(J-7052). Significantly, many lead came fragments were
found with the window glass — 96 in all. Additional building
material — including 661 handwrought nails of all sizes, spikes,
picture hooks, pintles, and a lock bar — was present. The
ceramic artifacts include bricks and flat roofing tiles, a quantity
of locally made lead-glazed earthenware, and a representation
of delftware and majolica. Especially notable was a large,
complete, locally made, orange-red pot, with a horizontal bond
of thumb prints added as a filler below the rim. Also present
were several pieces of what may have been Spanish ollas and
wine jugs, the latter with two handles. Among four pieces of
blue-on-gray stoneware were the initials LM and the fragment
of a name: ". . . liaum." Consistent with the evidence of
Zone A, most of the 34 white tobacco pipebowls indicate the
1650-75 period. Six had the initials "EL," 4 "WC," and
1 "RC." Seven additional white bowls (one "BC" initial)
are from the 1625-50 period. Many cow bones (102), deer
bones (10), and a few turkey, sheep, pig, and horse bones were
included in Zone B.
Zone C was up to 0.9 foot thick, lensing out at the east,
west, and south edges of the pit and disappearing 4.5 feet
from the northern rim. This zone, in contrast with Zones
A and B, was clayey rather than dark and greasy. It contained
fewer artifacts, most of which were nails (many L-shaped),
pipe fragments, and gin-bottle fragments. With remarkable
consistency, the white pipebowl evidence showed 33 from the
1650-75 period, and 6 from 1625-50. Initials represented
were "WC" (4), "BC," and "IH." Lambeth delft fragments
(26) were unusually numerous.
Zone D was a thin layer, maximum thickness 1 foot. This
layer was confined to the southern half of the pit and con-
tained a high percentage of charcoal. For a limited deposit,
it was fairly rich in artifacts. Present, as in the higher zones,
was the high proportion of clay-pipe fragments, handwrought
nails, and gin-bottle fragments. The clay pipebowls, perhaps
significantly, show a larger proportion of earlier (second-
quarter 17th century) types, some of which may even be first
quarter.
Zone E (3 feet thick at the center of the pit) was almost
sterile of cultural refuse, except for a limited quantity of
handwrought nails ; an almost complete cross-cut saw, 2-handled
type; 3 pipebowls of 1650-75 period, 1 with the initials
"BC" stamped on it. Glass specimens, as usual, were gin-
bottle fragments, but in addition there were 3 fragments of
Venetian tazza goblets.
Zone F, the lowest, was similar to Zone E, but contained few
artifacts. The most notable of these were a muzzle from a
light cannon or robinet (J-7045), a hoe, and a key.
The ice pit with its content of artifacts is significant because
here was deposited debris from a wrecked house, specifically a
burned house, and almost positively, Structure 112.
Upper. — Structure 128, an ice pit, as seen after the excavation. Irregular
outlines are due to test trenching and development. The pit was orig-
inally circular, sloping from 14 feet in diameter at the top to 6 feet
inside a narrow bench near the bottom. Total depth was 7 feet from
the present surface, probably near the original depth. A number of
bricks found in the fill compared with the exterior walls of the second
or rebuilt portion of Structure 112, nearby. Artifacts indicated third
quarter of the 17th century, predominantly.
Lower. — Harvesting ice at Jamestown, about 1650 — a conjectural scene
based on the Structure 128 pit identified as that of an icehouse. The
housing above the pit is conjectural inasmuch as no evidence of a
masonry structure was found, although brick fragments were found in
the fill. Painting by Sidney E. King.
148
PLATE to— Structure 128
149
The artifacts are predominantly third-quarter 17th century,
with a definite, but smaller proportion representing the second
quarter. If Structure 112 was burned during Bacon's Rebellion
in 1676, it would seem logical to assume that the icehouse also
had been destroyed by that time, or possibly during the same
fire. Then during the period that the debris of the burned
house was being cleared, the pit was completely filled. The
large amount of fragments of diamond-shaped window quarrels
would seem to offer concrete evidence of association with
Structure 112, the south wall of which demonstrably contained
such window material. Only 6 wine-bottle fragments of in-
determinate type and date were found in Structure 112. This
curious preference of the users of Structure 112 for gin matches
the complete absence of wine-bottle evidence in the ice pit,
and the great number of gin-bottle fragments in the fill at all
levels.
It would appear, then, that the ice pit was forgotten, once
it had been filled in after Bacon's Rebellion, or after the fire
that destroyed Structure 112. The 4 bricks found in Zone B
and the 8 bricks of Zone F have the following range in inches:
Length: 8]/4 to 8l/2 ; width: 4 to 43/8 ; thickness: 2 to 2%.
Although this sampling is inadequate to represent a structure,
the range is comparable to that of Structure 112 bricks.
STRUCTURE 134
Structure 134 was a single course of headers, laid flat, to
form a row 0.8 foot wide and 15.5 feet long within the fill
of Trough Area 2, an indefinite depression 23 feet wide.
Structure 134 lay at a depth of 4.8 feet from the surface at
an elevation of 8.86 feet above mean low tide. It may be
related to comparable Structure 29, recorded in 1934, which
lay 55 feet to the southeast approximately in line with Struc-
ture 134. Structure 134 lay in Lot 92:107 within 50 feet of
the James River shore.
Apparently this structure was not intended as a drain base,
since it is too narrow. Nor does it seem adequate to base a
wall. Its use is unknown, but may be related to the prob-
lematical series of trough areas east of Structure 17 which in
turn, may be related to borrow or moat excavations for the
"Turf Fort" of the latter half of the 17th century.
STRUCTURE 141
For many years historians and other students interested in
the Jamestown story have voiced guesses, opinions, and con-
victions regarding the "brick bridge" referred to as "Mr.
Knowles his bridge" (Forman, 1938, p. 130). All are unan-
imous as to the importance of this bridge in estimating the
location of property boundaries.
In November 1956, this bridge was located with confidence
in Lot 101:112,* precisely where the topographic map shows an
old fill extending northward from the south side and southward
from the north side of Pitch and Tar Swamp. This evidence,
consisting only of the old fill and a collection of brick rubble
evidence from the intervening swamp, or marsh, was designated
Structure 141. The dimensions of the "bridge" could not be
determined with accuracy by probing across the swamp. It is
believed, however, that the direction of the fill was accurately
and definitely determined.
In all probability, the "bridge" was never a masonry con-
struction, but was rather a fill of brick rubble, which would
have been just as satisfactory and far less difficult and costly
to build. No artifacts other than small brick pieces were found
to aid in dating.
The causeway is in the presumed location of the John
Knowles tract of 1665, consisting of 133 acres {Ambler Papers
No. 15).
REFUSE PIT 1
Refuse Pit 1 (Lot 101:103) in all probability was a borrow
pit for clay — quite possibly for the kilns of Structure 111.
It was subsequently filled with trash. That this pit was filled
after the kilns ceased operating is evidenced by the fact that
the trash includes only two sherds of wasters, both in Zone B.
It is, indeed, a strange fact that no definite waster piles have
been observed anywhere at Jamestown, although waster pot
and tobacco-pipe fragments have been found near the small
pottery kiln, Structure 27 (Lot 96:99). The shape of Refuse
Pit 1 was nearly square, 41 feet east-west and 36 feet north-
south. The depth from a surface elevation of 8.97 to 9.76
feet above mean low tide was 4.2 feet, maximum. The kilns
of Structure 111 lie directly north, Structure 110 is 23 feet to
the northeast, and Structure 112 is 115 feet to the west. Ditch
76 is 10 feet to the south and parallel with the south wall of
the pit.
Refuse Pit 1 was divided stratigraphically into 3 zones,
termed A, B, and C. Zone A was designated from the surface
to an average depth of 1.2 feet. Zone B was characterized by
brick rubble, averaged 0.9 foot in thickness, and contained
many artifacts. Zone C was a clay-soil mixture overlying the
undisturbed clay, with a thickness averaging 1 foot, which
yielded a number of interesting artifacts.
Zone A artifacts included a small brass weight, square
in shape, stamped "CAB£OS REX y_704ly This weight is
of the type used for a set of measuring scales. A silver thimble
(J-8776) also came from Zone A. The few other artifacts
here were comparable in type and date to those of Zone B,
except for a higher proportion of wine-bottle fragments. How-
ever, artifacts later than 17th century are lacking.
* See Fig. 2, The Site of Jamestown. The location of the bridge is
approximately coincident with the position of the "a" in the word
"Swamp."
150
Zone B, the brick rubble-filled deposit, was unmistakably
derived from building wreckage dating in the second and third
quarters of the 17th century. Most likely 1650-60 was the
interval of deposition. Flat roofing tiles are present, and 5
times as many handwrought nails — 259 — were found here than
in either Zone A or Zone C. In Zone B, 205 pieces of window
glass, mostly representing diamond shapes, were found, while
only 7 window-glass fragments were found in the other 2
zones. Thirteen lead came fragments also occurred in Zone B.
Possibly the most significant inclusion is 1,141 sherds of locally
made, lead-glazed earthenware (including the 2 wasters men-
tioned above) . Such debris is not comparable to that of a
waster pile. Structural wreckage, possibly from Structure 110
and/or 112 could be present here together with wreckage from
the clearing of the ground on which the Structure 111 kiln
stood (Note Zone C).
Zone B tobacco-pipe evidence includes 21 bowls of the
1625-50 period, including the stamps "WC," "RG," "SV,"
and a rose. Twenty-three bowls of 1650-75 include stamps
of a gauntlet, a star, "WC," "RG," "SV," "P," "HI,"
"EL," and "SH." From the stem diameter evidence in Zone
B, it appears that a dating of 1620-50 is implied, according
to Harrington's chart (Harrington, 1954). However, other
evidence, including the pipebowls, is contrary, and it appears
in this instance that a majority of stems with %4-inch diameter
holes indicates the 1640-60 period, in the aggregate.
Zone C. Most of the notable artifacts were found in Zone C.
These include a swept hilt sword (J-7010) dating from 1600-
1610, the work of Johannes Wundes of Solingen, Germany; a
breastplate and a backplate belonging to a pikeman's suit of
armor (J-7042, J-7043) of early 17th-century type; the guard
of a basket-hilt sword (J-7044) dating 1600-1625; a cutlass
(J-9721) of 1600-1625; and a musket barrel (J-9458) 2 feet
long dating from 1625 to 1650. The balance of Zone C
evidence which is of a diagnostic character indicated that this
deposit had been made in the pit very definitely betore 1650.
Tobacco-pipe evidence is not great, but what there is is rela-
tively early. It includes 8 whole pipebowls of which 3 are
from 1600-1625, and the rest from the second quarter of the
century. Of 56 bottle fragments, 55 are from gin bottles and
only 1 is from a wine bottle. The artifacts in general are
utilitarian, rather than structural, and include 7 felling axes, a
saw, and 267 pieces of locally made earthenware.
It is interesting to note that refuse from the furnace struc-
tures at Glasshouse Point was transported to the Structure 1 1 1
kiln site and used in kiln construction — probably because any
kind of stone building material was a premium on the island.
Ultimately, these stones came to be discarded in Refuse Pit 1,
Zone C. A piece of shaped granite weighing about 35 pounds
was found to be covered on the original surface with molten
glass. It was recognized immediately that this glazed rock
was the same type as that at the main furnace at Glasshouse
Point. With the discovery of 2 additional smaller fragments,
it was noted that Specimen D-74 at Glasshouse was actually a
fragment of Field Specimen 669 at Refuse Pit 1, Zone C, the
parts matching exactly. A fragment of a glass-making crucible
was also found in Zone C. Thus it can be said confidently
that rocks, including several river pebbles, and crucible and
furnace fragments from Glasshouse Point furnaces were re-
moved, probably between 1622 and 1650. They were trans-
ported to Jamestown Island where they probably were used in
the kilns of Structure 111, and later scattered and disposed of
in Refuse Pit 1, after the kilns were destroyed.
In summary, Refuse Pit 1 appears to have been filled with
refuse from habitations representing the period 1640-60, and
specifically, refuse from the kiln area of Structure 111 to the
north, and possibly Structures 110 and 112, or both.
REFUSE PIT 2
Refuse Pit 2, located in Lot 95:104, is the only clearly 18th-
century refuse deposit so far (1957) recognized on the James-
town site. Its location is in the nucleus of the 20 houses shown
on Desandrouins' French Military Map of 1781, and nearly
contiguous to the curious horseshoe-shaped, brick-rubble rem-
nant to the west, designated Structure 121. The area to the
north, while tested by 50-foot interval trenches in 1955 without
revealing any structure south of the long multiple-unit house,
Structure 115, has not yet been adequately explored. By the
test trench evidence this area had little cultural debris in it.
However, if this area should prove to have been without
structures, the possibility can be entertained that here was a
"village green," purposely left open, only to be traversed by
Ditches 66, 24, and 10 (with Road 5 — just possibly a trace of
the "back streete" — between).
The 18th-century Refuse Pit 2 does not, by its content, indicate
anything other than the proximity of contemporaneous dwell-
ings. It is certainly a most unlikely spot for depositing Ambler
House trash. The pit itself was in 2 parts, the west pit
approximately 15 by 13 feet and the east pit, an irregular
oblong shape, 25 by 17 feet. The maximum depth of both
pits was 4.5 feet below the present surface. The top foot
yielded numerous potsherds, glass fragments (wine bottles),
pipestems, and other artifacts, mostly 18th-, but including some
19th-century material. The l-to-2-foot level was very rich and
contained largely 18th-century material. Bones of food ani-
mals, mostly beef, were especially common. The lower 2 feet
of Refuse Pit 2 was filled with whole and fragmentary bricks
in a jumbled pile. Other artifacts were extremely scarce. Two
cross trenches at right angles to each other were cut across the
west portion. No evidence of any kind of structure was en-
countered, and artifacts other than bricks were extremely rare
in the lowest level. Therefore these two trenches were con-
sidered to have yielded adequate and representative data and
no further excavation was attempted.
Artifacts in the middle and upper portions of Refuse Pit 2
included a large representation of salt-glazed Staffordshireware
151
of good quality; some mid- 18th-century wine bottles (perhaps
some of later date) ; green-edged ware; some combed slipware;
and both blue-on-gray and brown mottled English stoneware.
The clay pipe representation was mostly 1700-1750, although
some may have been later in the 18th century.
REFUSE PITS 3 AND 4
Two minor refuse deposits bordered Pitch and Tar Swamp.
Refuse Pit 3, in Lots 102:103 and 102:104, was a small, shal-
low, oval basin 20 feet long and 2.5 feet deep filled with sparse
refuse associated with Structure 110, 25 feet south. Refuse
Pit 4, in Lots 101:102 and 102:102 was an enlargement and
terminus of Ditch 79, 50 feet north of Structure 112. Contents
of Refuse Pit 4 were mostly earthenware associated in type and
period with Structure 112.
REFUSE PIT 5
Refuse Pit 5 (Lot 93:107) was a small (approximately 8
by 5 feet), shallow deposit filled with cultural debris character-
istic of first-quarter 17th century and perhaps extending to
1650. The significant factor here is that Refuse Pit 5 is within
15 feet east of Structure 24 and 60 feet southeast of Well 20.
Virtually nothing is known of Structure 24 except that a gin
bottle was found there which is datable by analogy in the first
quarter of the 17th century. Likewise, at Well 20 a gin bottle
of the same mold and quantities of other early 17th-century
artifacts were found. Clearly, these three features are mutually
related in time and culture horizons. Trough Area 1 nearly
encroaches on Refuse Pit 5 on the east. Apparently this trough
area is a later intrusion and quite possibly it is a borrow or
moat area for the turf fort located in this approximate position
in the second half of the 17th century.
Artifacts of Refuse Pit 5 include 40 white clay pipebowls,
all but 2 or 3 of which are clearly first-quarter 17th century.
The remainder possibly reach 1650 as indicated by slightly
increased bowl size. One bowl has a hand emblem stamped
in the heel. It is a single brown clay pipebowl, no larger and
with the same shape as the white specimens of the first quarter.
Interestingly, this bowl presumably was molded locally of
Jamestown clay by the earliest Jamestown pipemaker from
whom we have a trace of handiwork. In addition, approxi-
mately 200 white pipestem fragments were recovered from the
fill. Most of these are characterized by large hole diameters.
Some 15 brown pipestems further attest local manufacture.
Other artifacts in Refuse Pit 5 included approximately 200
nails, spikes, and small pieces of iron. It is apparent that these
specimens are handwrought, and mostly of good size, probably
of "mushroom" heads. Several gin bottle fragments and a few
wine bottle fragments were recovered from the deposit. How-
ever, the wine bottle bits are too small to allow age determina-
tion. By association, they should be no earlier than 1640, and
certainly not much later. Some 100 local and English lead-
glazed earthenware pieces include both dark and light glazing,
as well as very hard and relatively soft paste. Seventy-five
Dutch delft and majolica fragments included drug jars, por-
ringer handles and bowl fragments, and a piece of purple
mottled delftware. Several fragments of a single, large Italian
sgraffito plate and a fragment of a rather thick copper pin
comprise the balance of significant artifacts.
DITCHES 66 AND 9
Ditch 66 and Ditch 9 intersect in Lot 97:106. At this
junction, in both ditches, large quantities of wine-bottle frag-
ments (virtually nothing else) were found during the 1955
explorations connected with the reopening of these ditches foi
display. The dating of the wine bottles was consistently last-
quarter 17th century. Therefore, it may be assumed that these
2 ditches were open from 1675 to 1700. The absence of an)
notable inclusion of later artifacts suggests that the ditches were
closed in the 18th century. The fact that there were no earl)
17th-century artifacts noted in the lower fill also suggests thai
the ditches were not constructed before the third quarter of
the 17th century.
The conjecture may be offered that the ditches were used tc
mark boundaries after the rebuilding of Jamestown following
Bacon's Rebellion and were abandoned and refilled when the
land became useful as plantation acreage in the 18th century.
Another conjecture is that the ditches may have been used as
drains, since Ditch 9 is a functional drainage ditch extending
from North 97 to beyond North 102.
At the junction of Ditch 66 with Ditch 9 at a depth of 1.7
feet a bronze thimble was found. A pellet of paper on which
dim letters can be traced had been inserted and preserved in
the thimble. (Perhaps a little girl tried to keep it on her finger
with a packing of lesson paper, or a bit of an old letter!)
Too numerous to list in a series, the other 94 ditches al
the site are mentioned passim in the text when they pertain tc
other features.
WELLS
Twenty-four wells were located on Jamestown Island during
the 2 periods of archeological explorations by the National
Park Service. In addition, 2 were found in the APVA grounds
earlier in the century. Wells were a necessity at Jamestown,
since there were no springs, and the river water was too
brackish to drink. Because they were shallow and easily con-
taminated, the wells undoubtedly were a leading factor con-
tributing to the assorted ills — agues, fevers, and fluxes — which
in large measure brought about the decimation and dishearten-
ment of the settlers in the difficult first years.
152
Probably the first wells, located near the shore, were dug too
deep, allowing salt water to mingle with the ground water.
No natural elevation on the island reaches 20 feet above mean
low tide on Jamestown Island today, and probably did not in
the 17th century. Therefore, it is necessary to sink a shallow
well only to a point slightly above mean low tide level in order
to collect the fresh ground water which gathers in a sandy
substratum beneath the shallow clay topsoil and remains in a
thin lens above the salt. Thus, it is possible to understand
the complaint of William Strachey when he entered Jamestown
from Bermuda with Sir Thomas Gates in May 1610:
True it is, I may not excuse this our Fort or James Towne, as yet
seated in some what an unwholesome and sickly ayre, by reason it is in
a marish ground, low, flat to the River, and hath no fresh water Springs
serving the Towne, but what wee drew from a Well six or seven
fathom deepe, fed by the brackish River owzing into it, from whence I
verily beleeve, the chiefe causes have proceeded of many diseases and
sicknesses which have happened to our people, who are indeede
strangely afflicted with Fluxes and Agues. (Purchas, XIX, 58)
Strachey can be suspected of exaggerating when he refers to
a well as at least 30 feet depth — to dig one that deep would
have taken modern pumps and casing — but that the well was
too deep is manifest by its brackish water. Yonge (1903, p.
37) assumes "6 or 7 fathoms" should have read "6 or 7 feet."
Wells excavated at Jamestown are of two main categories:
those with no casing remaining except a wooden barrel at the
bottom, and those with brick casing. The uncased wells may
have had wooden shoring which has disappeared without a
trace. But they now appear as wide (7 to 10 feet) circular
holes at the bottom of which a bottomless barrel was placed on
sand, so that the top was somewhat above the waterline. In
at least one well a rectangular wooden casing was observed.
The usual casing, however, is of brick laid in a circular pattern
4 to 41/2 feet in exterior diameter, with either ordinary bricks
or wedge-shaped "well bricks" inside a circular excavation 10
:o 12 feet in diameter. A barrel was not necessary at the
DOttom of the masonry casing, which rests either on sand or
3n wooden sill.
By proximity, most wells are logically associated with certain
buildings. By their artifacts, they are datable within reason-
ible limitations ; therefore, they are useful in determining the
ige of the associated structure. Just as important are the arti-
:acts themselves, often remarkably preserved — especially leather
tnd wood — due to their immersion in mud and water at the
ower limits of the well.
Wells 1 and 2
These brick-lined wells are located in the Unit A area north
)f Pitch and Tar Swamp. It should be noted that Well 1 is
112 feet west-northwest of Structure 1, and that Well 17
(unlined, no barrel found) is 103 feet north. Well 1 is
described briefly by John T. Zaharov as having the bricks laid
dry in header bond. The bricks are said to have been whole,
lot wedge-shaped, averaging &ys by AyA by 2l/2 inches, orange-
red in color. The fill included brick debris, oyster shells,
garbage bones, and some rough earthenware sherds.
Well 2 was located on the vaguely defined "building site"
some 520 feet northwest of Structure 1, which was designated,
not by actual masonry remains, but from brick fragments and
occupational evidence, notably the well. Well 2 was observed
superficially but not completely excavated.
Well 3
Located on Lot 90:113, 10 feet north of the small brick
foundation of Structure 18, this brick-cased well was excavated
in 1935. The only records are a rough sketch, plus a few
notes. A round brick casing of header bricks of full size
(9 by 41/2 by 2y2 inches) extended 6 courses down, below
which the bricks were tapered. The inside-well diameter was
2 feet 9 inches. The circular hole in which the brick casing
was set was 5 feet 3 inches in diameter — much smaller than
the other wells found at Jamestown. The casing extended
8 feet 8 inches from the existing top to the bottom, which
rested on a circular wooden curbing 8 inches thick and 2 feet
9 inches in diameter. The excavators of 1935 recorded that
at a depth of 5 feet, modern debris was encountered consisting
of tin cans, bottles, etc. Presumably, then, the top of the well
had been opened previously. Eleven clay-pipe fragments (Cat.
Nos. 10,248 and 10,249) were found 8 feet deep at the well
bottom. A dozen fragments of a gravel-tempered earthenware
pot of English manufacture were also found. The pot was
definitely 17th century, but its exact date is not evident. The
pipe fragments could not be found in the collection.
Well 4
This brick-cased well on Lot 99:101 was excavated in 1935.
It is reported to have been 2.8 to 3 feet in diameter and 11.5
feet deep from batter board to the bottom of the masonry,
which rested on sand. When excavated, the water level stood
at 1.8 feet above mean low tide and the masonry extended
12.5 inches below mean low tide. The casing was laid in header
bond, using mainly whole bricks averaging 8% by 4% by 25/8
inches, with very few quarter and three-quarter bricks inter-
spersed. No artifacts were recorded.
Well 4 lies north of Structures 19A and 45, and is 15 feet
from each. If Structure 45 was a kitchen serving Structures
19 A and/or 19B, the well location is logical.
Well 5
Well 5 (Lot 94:104) was brick-lined. It was within 10
feet of a small brick foundation, Structure 51, and within 25
feet of Structure 43, a second small brick foundation. The
casing top was 3.55 feet above mean low tide, the surface being
9.7 feet above this mark. The bottom of the casing was 1.37
below mean low tide. The length of the casing was 4 feet 11
inches. The casing was 1 header thick (9 inches average),
oval in plan outline, with a maximum inside diameter of 3 feet
2 inches to 3 feet 6 inches at the top, and an average diameter
153
PLATE 66— Water Wells
Brick-lined well in Lot 99:101 (Well 4), immediately north of
Structures 19 and 45.
Well 19 (Lot 99:105) was cased with brick, and contained cultural
evidence which would associate it with the occupation of Structure 115,
in the latter half of the 17th century. Many garbage bones were found
in the fill of this brick-lined well. Among them, 4 feet below the surface,
was the left half of a human, male pelvis, left leg and foot, complete
except for some missing tarsals and phalanges.
Well 18, located in Lot 100:102, was 40 feet west of Structure 117,
a house with a paved cellar. This well was cased with brick, including
some wedge-shaped well brick. It had a remnant of a brick-floored well
housing at the top. The housing was built inside a circular pit 10.5 feet
in diameter.
Wooden barrel with iron hoops found at the bottom of Well 15
(Structure 96) in the Travis graveyard.
154
at the bottom of 2 feet 6 inches. The hole above the casing
was 5 feet 9 inches in diameter, according to the record, but
from our present knowledge of wells at Jamestown, the
masonry originally must have been set in a larger hole. The
notes specify the average brick size as 9 by 4l/2 by 2y4 inches,
color, dark orange-red to purple. The mortar of clay, sand,
and oyster shell is described as poor of quality and yellowish-
white in color. The joints were I/4 to % inches. The top of
the well hole was found 18 inches below the surface.
Artifacts from above Well 5 are of considerable interest and
significance, although they are not necessarily associated with
the fill of the well. A nearly complete large earthenware pot
with lead-glazed interior (J— 7598) was found from 1 foot
6 inches to 2 feet 6 inches below the surface, above the well fill.
This pot is a typical waster, as the warped and broken rim
portion indicates. The pot could not have been used, as
restored. From the many pipe fragments cataloged as having
been found in the Well 5 area and vicinity, 1 brown bowl and
12 white bowls were observed in the collection. All white
pipebowls are characteristically early 18th century (1700-1740).
The brown pipebowl is large, but indeterminate for dating.
While the artifact evidence here cited is not directly indicative
of the dating of the well, it does show that, as elsewhere in
this lot, no early 17th-century artifacts are represented. This
suggests that, in the absence of earlier debris, the well and
structures most likely are related to early 18th century and
possibly later.
Well 6
A brick-lined structure in Lot 96:101 located near Structures
62 and 63 was identified as a well but it was not excavated.
Well 7
This brick-lined well was located in Lot 96:100, 90 feet
north of the nearest major structure, Structure 26, on the shore-
line of the James River. Therefore, the well was not associated
with any clearly defined structure, the nearest fragment of
brick masonry being Structure 60, located 40 feet to the east.
Another well, No. 8, uncased, with a wooden barrel at the
bottom lay 14 feet north. The dimensions of Well 7 were:
casing, 2.8 feet inside diameter, 0.8 foot thick, 4.3 feet average
outside diameter. The depth at the time of excavation (1936)
was 13.4 feet below the surface. The bottom of the well was
2.6 feet below mean low tide, with the water level 0.4 foot
above mean low tide or 10.4 feet below the surface.
The masonry of Well 7 casing was a rough and variable
English bond, using many fractional bricks. The base was set
on a wooden footing, apparently octagonal in plan, which in
turn rested in sand.
The fill of Well 7 showed some stratification, as follows:
3.5 feet of topsoil containing brickbats, whole bricks, clay
pipes, earthenware pottery sherds, clay tile, porcelain (?),
bottle and window glass, nails, bronze pins, and garbage bones.
Below this was 2.2 feet of oyster shells with some brick frag-
ments and artifacts. This alternate soil and oyster shell fill
pattern repeated itself once before the water level was reached.
No record on depths below the water level was left by the
excavators, and no artifacts have been identified. Fortunately,
27 white pipestems and 8 pipebowls recovered from the fill
were located in the collection. The analysis is: 4 — %4,
12 — %4> 4 — %4- Thus the dating is confined to the 1650-
1720 period, with emphasis on the last of the 17th and first
of the 18th centuries.
Well 8
This well, located in Lot 97:100, 14 feet north of Well 7,
was excavated in 1936. Data available show that the well had
no casing preserved, but that the barrel at the bottom was at
least partly intact with the remaining top portion appearing at
a depth of 9.3 feet from the 1936 surface. Whether or not
the original barrel top was preserved is not stated. Judging
from other similar instances at Jamestown, it is likely that the
top third or more of the barrel had rotted away, especially
since mean low tide level in 1936 came to 8.77 feet below the
surface, or 0.2 foot below the top of the extant barrel staves.
The average diameter of the circular well opening appears to
have been 4.5 feet.
The fill of Well 8 is reported to have consisted of sand and
topsoil interspersed with brick, brick fragments, oyster shell,
charcoal fragments, nails, and garbage bones. At 44 inches
below the surface was "a ring," the field specimen number of
which is not recorded. Since no finger rings are known in the
collection from this part of Jamestown, the ring was probably
a bronze grommet or iron ring. (For structural associations,
see Well 7 above.)
Well 9
Located 5 feet north of Well 10 and 35 feet north of Well
21 in Lot 91:111, Well 9 was described when excavated in
the thirties, but was not drawn. The nearest building structure
is a fireplace of a partly explored house, Structure 35, located
15 feet north.
The circular well hole, which became better defined as dig-
ging progressed, was 2.1 feet in diameter. At 5.5 feet the fill
within this hole was a dark, dense mud filled with brickbats,
bits of charcoal, garbage bones, and nails Specimens of pot-
tery, wood, charcoal, and whole and fragmentary bricks were
found to a depth of 8.8 feet where a wooden barrel was
encountered. Found in the barrel were pieces of wood (not
described as manufactured) and glass, including fragments of
bottles. Pieces of wood, glass, leather, and garbage bones were
found in the fill of the original well excavation outside the
barrel. The barrel was removed after a quantity of blue clay
was removed from the inside. Well 9 was probably con-
temporaneous with the definitely early Well 21, nearby to the
south. This is attested by its many sherds of early 17th-
century delftware, bottle evidence (1 wine-bottle sherd to 10
155
gin-bottle sherds), and tobacco pipes, which date in the second
quarter of the 17th century.
Well 10
This well is in Lot 91:111, 5 feet south of Well 9, 27 feet
north of Well 21 and 23 feet south of Structure 35, a brick
fireplace. There was no preserved casing, but 8.1 feet below
the surface a 10-stave barrel, smaller than that in Well 9, was
located and removed. Artifacts in the well fill are mentioned
simply as a few garbage bones, pieces of bottle glass, bits of
wood, and a stone.
Well 11
Excavated and recorded in 1936, Well 11 was described as
a "dirt well" with a wooden barrel at the bottom in Lot 99:101.
The over-all depth was approximately 12 feet, depending upon
the exact elevation of the original surface. The top of the
barrel was 0.57 feet above, and the bottom 2.31 feet below
mean low tide. Barrel diameter was 33 inches. The only
metal artifact recorded was an adz found in the fill at the top
of the barrel. The well fill above the barrel contained many
whole and broken bricks, the measurements of which have not
been recorded. In addition, roofing tiles were found as well as
slate and a few pottery fragments. From l/2 f0°t to 3 feet,
6 white pipestem fragments and 1 white pipebowl were located
in the collection. These stems measured 2 — %4, 2 — %4,
2 — %4, placing them between 1650 and 1710, allowing for
the small sample. The bowl is definitely 1700-1720 and is
stamped "WW" on the body.
Well 11 lies 22 feet from the northwest corner of Structure
19B, and presumably served that building, adjacent Structure
19 A, or both. The well could also have served Structure 106,
15 feet southwest, if the shadowed trace in the ground desig-
nated by that number was a house.
Well 12
One of the 1936 excavations, Well 12 (97:102, Sq. 61),
is unique at Jamestown inasmuch as it had preserved at the
bottom the remains of a rectangular framed casing 4.7 by 3.7
feet. This casing perhaps is best described as a box of vertical
shakes framed on the inside by horizontal squared sills.
Whether or not this framed casing extended farther toward
the top is not certain, since no wood was preserved higher
than 3.5 feet above the mean low tide datum level — in other
words, above the protective saturated clay. The distance from
the bottom of the deepest of these vertical wood shakes to the
surface of the ground in 1936 was 11 feet. These boards
could have been any length up to this figure. (The heavier
corner timbers reach a depth of 12.2 feet.) In any case, it
appears certain that Well 12 was either wholly or partially
framed with wood. The presence of fragments of long shakes
in the well fill itself appears to substantiate this probability.
Although meticulous drawings exist for the lower framing
of this well, data on artifacts is disappointing. In the upper
fill the remains of a delft candleholder and a number of pieces
of iron (unspecified) were found. The notes also record bone
(presumably garbage) from the lower fill which, as it ap-
proached the waterline, became the characteristic moist, bluish
clay.
Well 13
Well 13 (93:110, Sq. 67, 74) was completely excavated in
1938, and drawings and architectural records were made. The
well was simply a round hole about 5 feet in diameter and 1C
feet below the 1938 surface. The nature of the fill indicated
that it had accumulated at one time instead of being slowly
deposited, and that almost no cultural materials had been
included with this fill to within 2 feet of the surface. The
bottom was apparently 3.5 to 4 feet below the present average
ground water level.
From 0 to 2.5 feet above the apparent bottom of Well 13
was a layer of dark soil which contained many cultural objects
below the water level and consequently well preserved. Thi;
material included 28 whole and fragmentary bricks averaging
8I/2 by 4I/3 by 1 13/16 inches, all highly uniform and unusuall]
thin — unlike other Jamestown bricks.
Besides the bricks, there were the following artifacts in th<
well: a large wooden tray or trencher of a type possibly usee
by the baker in handling flour; an earthenware jug with handlt
missing; an iron brush knife; an iron bar (possibly an auger)
a bone painted or stained blue; and several scraps of wood
The well is possibly mid- 17th century.
(See Structure 34-37 for correlation and analysis of thi:
evidence with an associated structure.)
Wells 14 and 15
These wells in Lot 81:182 were both uncased with wooder
barrels at the bottom. They were located in the Travi;
Plantation graveyard area in the eastern part of the island
These are not directly related to the Jamestown area; therefor<
they will not be discussed further, except to note that th(
barrel in Well 15 had a top diameter of 2.2 feet, iron hoops
and contained pieces of shoe soles among a few other artifacts
This coincides with evidence of preserved leather in earlie:
17th-century wells (Wells 20 and 21).
Well 16
Well 16 (Lot 90:111) was a brick-lined structure locate<
in 1935 during excavation of a sewer-pipe trench from thi
temporary archeology laboratory to the river. Although n<
excavation record was made of this well, card catalog record;
at Jamestown for Lot 90:111 indicate that the following wen
found: 2 iron axes; 11 miscellaneous iron objects (not sped
fied) ; miscellaneous wine-bottle fragments; a small f ragmen
of a delftware dish; a small earthenware fragment, unspecified
2 tobacco pipestem fragments; and 1 pipebowl fragment witl
the initials "LE" impressed on it. These were interminglec
with fragments of animal bones. The presence of the "LE"
156
pipebowl and the wine-bottle fragments place this well in the
second half of the 17th century, considerably later than Well
21, which is 31 feet to the north. Excavations up to the
present (1957) show that Structure 125, located 80 feet west
of Well 16, is the nearest house to the well. This house
evidently belongs to the end of the 17th century in its final
occupation.
Well 17
This was a dirt well; no barrel; partially excavated in
1934, located 103 feet north of Structure 1 in Unit A.
Well 18
Located in Lot 100:102, Sq. 19 and 29, Well 18 was cased
with specially shaped well bricks averaging 8l/2 inches long
and tapered from 4]/s inches wide to 2!/2 inches at the opposite
end. Thickness was usually 2\^ inches. The casing extended
downward from the bottom of the plowline (where traces of
a brick well housing remained) more than 13 feet. At this
lower depth the excavation had to be terminated because of
danger to the workman. The casing had an average outside
diameter of 4 feet and an inside average diameter of 2.4 feet.
The type of well housing cannot be wholly ascertained from
the footing, except that it was rectangular, presumably frame
on a brick base approximately 5 by 6 feet.
Well 19
Well 19 (Lot 99:105, Sq. 60) lies 14 feet north of the
north central wall of Structure 115. Although Well 19 is
bricklined, it is markedly different from Well 18 in almost
every other respect. The masonry does not include special
wedge-shaped "well bricks," but is built with whole bricks and
brickbats laid with oyster-shell mortar. Artifacts and other
evidence found in the fill indicate that the well was filled with
late 17th-century refuse, chiefly garbage bones, continuously
to within about 4 feet of the top. At the 4-foot level a
nearly complete human left leg and left half of the pelvis
were found. No other human bones were discovered either
in the well fill or in the surrounding area.
From the surface to 4 feet, a mixture of artifacts from the
17th century and later was collected. Among these were cut
nails presumably not dating earlier than 1800. However,
included in this mixture were these items presumably from the
second half of the 17th century: 2 white clay pipestem frag-
ments with the initials "LE" and 59 white pipestems. Also
found at this level were 8 brown pipestems, probably of local
manufacture and contemporaneous with the white clay pipes;
2 white pipebowls from the last quarter of the 17th century;
1 glass, tubular, blue-and-red bead ; and 20 fragments of locally
made lead-glazed pottery.
From 4 to 6 feet, handwrought nails appeared, plus 5 white
pipestems representing the second half of the 17th century.
From 6 to 8 feet were taken a fine agate knife handle or
pendant fragment ; many wine-bottle fragments ; a gunlock plate
and wrought-iron holder (possibly for fireplace tongs) ; and
a large quantity of garbage bones, mainly cow, deer, turkey,
and some small mammals. Dog bones were also recognized.
From the artifact evidence, it seems clear that the well was
filled with late 17th-century refuse. This is evident from the
bottom to within a few feet of the top, where 18th- and
19h-century objects were presumably mixed with the debris
thrown in the last remaining depression where the well was
located. Thus the well, manifestly contemporaneous with
Structure 115, aids in dating that multiple dwelling in the
closing years of the 17th century.
Well 19 could not be excavated completely because of the
danger of the casing settling and collapsing as the water-
line was approached. It was ascertained that the water level
was approximately 10.09 feet below the surface or 0.85 feet
above mean low tide. The surface here is 11.75 feet above
mean low tide.
The serpentine ditch, Ditch 74, disturbed the west sector
and was dug subsequent to the well casing.
Well 20
One of the few wells for which no trace of barrel or casing
was found proved to be the most productive of artifacts.
Well 20 (Lot 93:107, Sq. 56 and 57) is located 30 feet north
of Structure 24, a problematical small brick foundation never
completely excavated but thought to belong to a frame struc-
ture. The closest major building is Structure 17, "The First
Statehouse," located 100 feet to the west. Both well and
Structure 24 may lie within the confines of the Turf Fort
erected in the 1660's.
The first 7 feet of fill in Well 20 occupied a broad, circular
excavation tapering from almost 11 feet to 7.5 feet in diameter.
This fill, beginning at 1.5 feet, was composed of alternating
layers of clay fill, small brick fragments, charcoal, yellow sand
turning gray in lower reaches, and scattered miscellaneous
artifacts.
Next came mixed sand and clays with some water-washed
lines indicating various periods of standing open, a layer of
brick fragments, and some whole bricks. Finally came the
basal bluish clay at the presumed well bottom. Here the level
of mean low tide is approximately 1 foot below the level of
ground water.
Artifacts appeared in all parts of the fill, indicating that the
well had served as a refuse disposal facility as long as it stood
open. However, the interval from 4 to 7 feet from the surface
was the most productive of notable artifacts. These included
many utility earthenware fragments; clay pipes from first-
quarter to first-half 17th century; a complete Dutch gin bottle;
a complete Hispanic two-handled jug; and many large frag-
ments of lead-glazed earthenware, mostly local, some English.
From 7 to 8.5 feet in blue, wet clay were found most of the
recognizable fragments of leather, all presumably from shoes.
These ranged from small fragments to the major portions of
soles and liners, and at least one large upper part of a shoe.
Many pieces of wood were found in the blue mud but none
157
seemed to be parts of utensils. It is possible that they may
have come from parts of wooden well framing which disinte-
grated and found its way below water level in the mud. Arti-
facts indicate a dating from 1620 to 1650.
Extensive probing failed to locate traces of a barrel or other
structure in the lower portion of the blue mud below the
waterline. The rapid influx of water, in addition to the diffi-
culty in excavating the sticky clay mud, resulted in abandoning
the effort to clear this portion of the well to undisturbed sand.
Very little artifact material was found in the last half foot
excavated.
Well 21
This earth well with barrel in Lot 91:111 was discovered
in 1956. It was beneath Feature 108, a shallow refuse area
roughly circular in outline, 14 feet in diameter and 2.5 feet
deep at its maximum. We can assume that Well 21 beneath
Feature 108 was relatively early, because the dark midden fill
of Feature 108 pit contained a wealth of artifacts character-
istically first-half 17th century. These include a halberd
(J-l 0,647) and swept hilt of a sword. Artifacts from the
well fill were consistent with this assumption.
The original excavation for Well 21 was a circular hole
7 feet in diameter which tapered to 6 feet as it extended
through 3-4 feet of undisturbed clay into sandy subsoil 10 feet
below the surface.
No trace of casing or a ground shadow of a well opening
within this excavation could be discovered until the first iron
hoop of a barrel was located at 7 feet below the surface. No
trace of wood staves was noted until a depth of 8 feet had
been reached. Judging from the hoop fragments and the ring
of partial wooden staves (18 inches long), the original barrel
diameter was between 2.2 and 2.3 feet.
The fill of the well pit was a mixed earth, dark but not as
dark as the fill of Feature 108 above. There was no evident
stratigraphy and it is assumed that the pit was filled in a
relatively short time. Undoubtedly the top of the barrel had
stood out of the water and rotted away, while the lower portion,
filled with gray mud and sand below the waterline, was pre-
served. The contents of the barrel yielded most of a small
delft jar, many shoe fragments, including the major part of
one shoe, and a clay pipe from the first half of the 17th
century.
The bottom of the barrel was approximately 1.1 feet below
mean low tide. The water level in August 1956 was 0.52
foot above mean low tide.
In his inspection of the lead-glazed earthenware from Well
21, Malcolm Watkins noted evidence of a relatively large
amount of locally made pottery. He was also impressed with
the early 17th-century aspect of the ceramics.
Well 22
A circular pit in Lot 98:105, Sq. 53 and 52, Well 22 aver-
aged 10 feet in diameter and was filled with a mixture of
earth and brick rubble, which was barren of other artifacts.
The fill showed no signs of having remained open at any
stage, and was probably filled at one time. At a depth of
7 feet the fill became muddy as the waterline was approached.
However, it is not recorded that the typical blue mud of a
well bottom was observed.
Well 23
Well 23 (Lot 100:102, Sq. 39) was simply a circular, earth-
filled hole which had evidence of being originally 7 to 8 feet
in diameter at the top and over 10 feet deep. The fill was
mainly clay earth and some sparse brick rubble. Artifacts
were few but significant: from the plowline to 4 feet were
found 3 pipestems (2 white and 1 brown colored and hand-
molded) all with large diameter holes suggesting first-half 17th
century; and 2 pipebowls of white clay from the first half,
probably second quarter, of the century. From 4.5 feet below
the surface came a fine wrought-iron pickax dating from 1625
to 1650. From 4 to 9 feet came a pipe definitely suggesting
first-quarter 17th century, a sword-blade fragment, a polearm
fragment, and an assortment of handwrought nails and spikes.
Well 23 was excavated to 9 feet when mud and water,
absence of further artifact material, and typical well-bottom
blue mud and sand indicated that further excavation was not
advisable. We may surmise that this pit was dug at an early
period, presumably as a well, and, if it was used at all, was
open only a relatively short time. Possibly it was not com-
pleted, since no trace of casing or barrel was observable. The
fill indicated that the opening had been filled without delay
and over a short time.
The nature of the fill indicated definitely that no significant
stratification occurred and that the well was filled continuously
with trash and earth debris. No noticeable difference in the
period of artifacts was evident from the plowline to the lowest
point reached. However, at the last foot below the waterline
(12 to 13 feet below surface) 2 lead fittings which evidently
went around a pipe were found. This suggested that a pipe
and pump may have been devised and installed in the well.
The remainder of the fill was characterized by the presence
of earth, whole and partial brick fragments (whole bricks
averaged 8% by 4]/4 by 2 y4, tan to red, moderately well-
fired), and artifacts as follows: many brown-mottled and
blue-on-white stoneware fragments; some blue-on-white delft;
a number of pantile fragments ; and a good representation of
locally made lead-glazed earthenware. Clay pipes were repre-
sented by eight white stem fragments and a brown, locally made
stem, all indicative of first-half 17th century. One white
pipebowl is probably first quarter and two are second quarter.
Several gin-bottle fragments were represented, but only one
wine bottle sherd. Metal objects were mainly represented by
wrought-iron nails and spikes, but one fragment each was
found of a shovel blade, a sword blade (saber), and a strap
hinge. A number of garbage bones were found, among which
were represented pigeon (or quail), turkey, and cow, with
158
some scraps of indeterminate smaller mammal bones.
From the evidence of the fill it would seem reasonable to
assume that this well was filled some time around the middle
of the 17th century.
Since Wells 23 and 18 are both 40 feet west of Structure 117,
either could belong to this house. This appears especially
true regarding Well 18. Artifacts from the fill of the cellar
of Structure 117 are clearly representative of the last half of
the 17th century — at least one pipebowl suggests last quarter.
Well 23 belongs to the first half of the century and, therefore,
could represent the earliest period of habitation at Structure 117.
Well 24
Well 24 (Lot 100:93, Sq. 26 and 36) was located within
the area of the Confederate Fort, 340 feet northwest of the
church tower. It was tested in 1955 and found to be an
authentic 17th-century brick-cased well. The top 6 feet of
casing was pointed in modern times, and the casing was ex-
tended aboveground and trimmed about the rim with large
half-bricks, a restoration presumably carried out by U. S. Army
engineers about 1902. The 1955 excavation under the direc-
tion of Dr. Joel L. Shiner disclosed that the top part of the
original casing had fallen in, but that the brick casing was
found intact at 7 feet from the surface. Water was first
encountered at a depth of 7 feet. The excavation proceeded to
uncover parts of a barrel between 8 and 9 feet. A total depth
of 12 feet was excavated. The surface of the ground at the
present day above mean low tide is 10.5 feet. It may be
assumed that the original ground surface was 1 to 3 feet higher.
Only the fill from 6 to 12 feet from the surface was repre-
sentative of the 17th century. There was no indication reported
of stratification of the fill, so it may be assumed that the well
was filled progressively and without marked interruption after
abandonment. Seventeenth-century artifacts included a goose
wing ax of a type dating around 1600; part of an iron kettle;
a large iron key; a large piece of sheet lead which may have
had a cylindrical shape that represented part of a well mech-
anism ; and some fragments of German stoneware. The latest
recognizable 17th-century evidence is a pair of wine-bottle
fragments, indicating that the well was in use from possibly
the first quarter, at least through the first half, of the 17th
century.
Other Wells
Two wells, in addition to the 24 excavated by the National
Park Service, were found by Colonel Yonge during the ex-
cavating of the Ludwell-Statehouse group. One had been re-
vealed during preparation of the seawall approximately 3 feet
from the west wall of the west room of Unit D of the Ludwell-
Statehouse group. The other was located about 20 feet from
the southeast corner of the Third-Fourth Statehouse, and is
marked today by a restored brick top. No data were recorded.
159
Summary
ARCHEOLOGY SETS THE STAGE
In commenting upon the value of artifacts and data unearthed
at Williamsburg, Va., Dr. Thomas J. Wertenbaker has
remarked
Hitherto they [historians] have depended too much upon manuscript
evidence . . . Perhaps the day is not distant when the social historian,
whether he is writing about the New England Puritans, or the Pennsyl-
vania Germans, or the rice planters of Southern Carolina, will look
underground, as well as in the archives, for his evidence.
Generous words, these, and archeology has come of age in
deserving them. As archival material — for that is essentially
what archeological data are, in the most succinct analysis —
the evidence of habitation and day-to-day usages, arts, and
crafts is unique. It is, of itself, incontrovertible. It is free
from adulteration or distortion in its creation and deposition.
Like archival material in libraries, it can be misinterpreted by
those who use it, but it is likewise possible for any new inter-
preter to evaluate it more accurately as long as the field data
and evidence are passed along intact. Even though the his-
torical data concerning an event may need no substantiation,
the archeologist, with confidence in the inviolability of his
evidence, can utilize what he finds to put flesh on the bare
bones of the historical narrative.
So it has been at Jamestown, where a reasonably rounded
description of events has been preserved to provide a simple
outline of what happened and when. What history has not
provided at Jamestown is a description of the town. Not so
much as an uncontested picture has been discovered, discount-
ing the oft-quoted 17th-century Dutch ship's log containing a
vague sketch which may or may not have been intended to
represent Jamestown. Archeological evidence has provided a
definite plan of structures, implied their character, their equip-
ment and their content of cultural objects. This is a consider-
able body of evidence in itself. It represents the major part
of the life and surroundings of Jamestown folk for over a
century, 24 hours a day, day in and day out. The indications
of change in style, fashion, and even custom are here — pipes,
glassware, ceramic vessels, house hardware, clothing accessories
and articles, weapons, architectural preferences, village pattern.
Here is the evidence of a way of life in the making, of culture
traits familiar to the Old World subtly recast in a new environ-
ment. By knowledge of these objects and their cultural
inferences, the student of Jamestown history can enter into a
far more intimate state of awareness of the life and times of
the first settlement.
Already the data and artifacts revealed at Jamestown by
archeological techniques have been effectively employed to
picture their relationship to the living culture of the com-
munity. J. Paul Hudson's "Daily Life at Jamestown 300
Years Ago as revealed by Recovered Objects" which consti-
tutes Part II of New Discoveries at Jamestown (Cotter and
Hudson, 1957d) basically fills the requirement for objective
interpretation of these finds. A further interpretive employ-
ment of data from the earth at Jamestown is to be found in
the museum exhibits installed in 1957 at the Jamestown Visitor
Center for the 350th anniversary celebration. Here objects
illustrate imports, local arts, crafts, industries, and usages —
even events, such as the conflagrations of Bacon's Rebellion
and the numerous accidental fires before and after that his-
torical landmark, represented in fused window and bottle glass,
charred wood, and heat-preserved wrought-iron nails.
A broken clay mold for lead soldiers and a little bronze
thimble stuffed with paper to make it fit a smaller finger may
remind us of children whose lot, we know from historical
narratives, was often cruel and difficult at Jamestown. Few
can remain unmoved by the plight of several hundred waifs
picked up from the London streets by agents of the Virginia
Company and transferred to Jamestown as indentured servants.
We cannot point to physical remains of these wretched young-
sters, who perished in such great numbers on the voyage over
or in the first months of servitude, but the scanty trinkets of
childhood juxtaposed with the scenes of happy children at play
shown on 17th-century Dutch tiles of an opulent Jamestown
house give us a poignant reminder. In short, archeological
evidence, to the imaginative, can embody historical facts in a
way that the written word cannot.
ARCHEOLOGY AND CULTURE
Here at Jamestown was the beginnning of a single money
crop system, the forerunner of the plantation economy of the
South. But, unlike the Caribbean where good land was at a
premium and only one crop — sugar — produced great profits
and where the small freeholders were not able to keep a foot-
hold, Virginia had land enough to give the indentured servants
hope to become small freeholders, and eventually to attain
161
status and substance in society. Tobacco was the money crop
to begin with, but its harvesting was not as demanding as that
of sugar cane, and the same soil could produce many other
crops as well. True, the plantation owners did squeeze out
the small farmers generally in the 18th-century, and the
burgeoning era of Negro slave labor even resulted in legis-
lation to protect white smallholders and servants from technical
competition by slaves. (Georgia stopped slave sales once in
the 18th century in deference to poor white laborers who
found Negro competition too strong.)
Here was a situation unique in the experience of the British
Empire. New skills, special crafts, and a way of life developed
in Virginia, beginning at Jamestown.
This, of course, we knew without archeological evidence.
But at Jamestown we have the fascinating picture of the con-
fusion that such culture change and reorientation creates. We
have it in tangible evidence. Here are the tools of the farmer
— the hoe for corn, the ax and wedge for splitting timber, the
hardware that made and fitted the special racks, barns, and
casks for tobacco. At Jamestown the best selection of utili-
tarian tools appeared in a refuse pit of the 1640-60 period.
Thereafter these tools were important only on the plantations
away from the capital. The story of life at Jamestown after
mid- 17th century is oriented about the Statehouse and its
visitors, and planters who came to transact business connected
with export and import. Again, archeological evidence illus-
trates this trend toward the rise of taverns by showing the
associated multitude of bottle fragments and pieces of clay
pipes. Only the Governor and a few persons of importance
could enjoy a substantial brick house, and this fact is high-
lighted by the finding of less than a dozen such dwellings.
The graves of hundreds of settlers at Jamestown, and many
more on the mainland, are forceful reminders of the peril
of the dark and fatal earth of the marshlands. Had Jamestown
been from the first an integrated community, and if by 1650
there had been durable houses in good numbers for a reason-
ably healthy population, there is little doubt that persistence
of tradition and favorable water communication could have
achieved permanence for the first settlement. But fires, in-
cluding one general holocaust in 1676, and a central and
healthy location available at Williamsburg, turned the decision
toward abandonment of Jamestown.
ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORY
It is our feeling, as well as our hope, that the data contained
in this report will supplement, correct, and enrich history. We
may even show how we reconstruct things in fact as well as by
conjecture. More significantly, we may have the means for
reconstructing that which is more important than things, namely,
ideas. Let us, then consider some of these results of our work.
At Jamestown the archeological evidence implies and some-
times confirms what is either stated or suggested by historical
and sociological evidence. While it is not necessary to find
an armorer's forge with the literal evidence of the improvement
of firearms in the early days of the 17th-century occupation to
be assured that changes in weapons and changes in military
tactics really occurred, the fact remains that such evidence is
not only conclusive but highly illustrative. The finding of a
house which was burned during Bacon's Rebellion is not needed
to confirm the historic fact, but Structure 112 evidence taken
as a whole does give us a picture of how a well-appointed house
of that time appeared and how it was furnished. Therefore,
Jamestown archeological discoveries complete an in situ exhibit
of 17th-century English colonial life as reflected in its arts,
crafts, artifacts, and by inference, its customs, and economic
character.
ACCULTURATION: AN INTERCHANGE
Archeological observation on the island also pertains to the
life of the aboriginal peoples before and near the time of
contact with the Europeans. But it is not essential to build up
a picture of Algonquian culture on the York Peninsula and
in Virginia tidewater regions by reference to the slight data
at hand. What we really understand about this culture we
must obtain from the remarkable observations of the 17th-
century settlers and from subsequent ethnological observations
by trained investigators. Indeed, probably little essential dif-
ference existed between the manner of living of the aborigines
at the time of discovery and the precontact period over a span
of several centuries. These Algonquians of Powhatan's day
were agricultural and hunting village dwellers, employing
slash-and-burn cultivation, and indulging in organized hunting.
They also showed a certain amount of political integration in
the instance of recent confederacy under a paramount chief.
The impact of Europeans on the Algonquian Indians has been
the subject of much analytical comment from anthropologists
and need not be repeated here.
What is more important is to observe the Indian traits
which positively and strongly influenced the English settlers.
This has not been done by historians. Unfortunately, few
anthropologists have considered the importance of accultura-
tion as it affected the life and times of the invading Europeans.
A. Irving Hallowell (Hallowell, 1957) states:
Traditionally the anthropologist has not considered it his business to
deal with historical facts and events in the same manner as the profes-
sional historian. Systematic inquiries by trained students, instituted
early in this century, were mainly concerned with securing information
from Indians on reservations which would permit the reconstruction of
aboriginal cultures as they had existed in the past. The use of historical
documents was a secondary consideration; information obtainable from
living informants was given primary emphasis. It was only in the
thirties that the study of culture contact, or acculturation, was defined as
a special subject for investigation. Once begun, such studies have been
focused upon the various ways in which the cultures of the Indians have
been affected by their contacts with white men. Despite the fact that
162
in the well-known memorandum of Redfield, Linton and Herskovits
(Am. Anth. Vol. 38, 1936, pp. 149-52), acculturation was conceived
as potentially a two-way process, in practice, American anthropologists
have investigated it as a one-way process.
Hallowell, noting how the white colonists adopted the whole
material complex of maize culture (except for ceremonial
traits) from the Indians, continues:
... In the case of corn, however, we do have some facts which are
well known to historians and easily accessible. In the spring of 1609,
for example, 40 acres of maize were planted at Jamestown under direct
Indian supervision and instruction. It was (Bruce, 1896:199) "the first
maize produced in any quantity in the boundaries of the United States
by people of English blood of which we have any authentic record."
Up until this time maize had been traded from the Indians, but in pre-
carious quantities. Captain John Smith induced two Indian captives
to supervise the planting, which was done in complete accord with Indian
practice. We do not know the names of these Indians, but we do know
their linguistic and tribal affiliation.
Thus, corn raising was the prime, life-saving, adopted trait
at the Jamestown settlement, as it was 13 years later at
Plymouth when Squanto, another Algonquian, was teaching
the Pilgrims to plant this vital crop. But it was tobacco,
equally an Indian cultivated plant, and its use — a trait directly
taken from the Indians — which gave the Virginia settlers their
sole money crop and laid the foundation of the Southern
plantation economy with its countless cultural ramifications in
the Southern States.
A summary of cultural borrowings from the Indians by the
white settlers at Jamestown follows:
1. Warfare
Weapons: Portability of light bow in contrast with
heavy arms in woods and difficult terrain.
Armor: Heavy armor abandoned to achieve Indian
mobility.
Tactics: Mobility and surprise, use of concealment in
forest, swamp, etc., ambush practice.
2. Housing
Light frame covered with portable roll matting found
best for summer and adopted sometimes in preference to
tight English wood and daub cottages.
3. Clothing
Skins and loose clothing of tailored skins sometimes used
in preference to woolen and other cloth garments. Moc-
casins: More satisfactory footgear in the bush.
4. Agriculture
Corn (the husking peg was an actual tool borrowing),
beans, pumpkins, squash (often planted in cornfields in
the Indian manner), tobacco (cultivated with native
techniques), berries, nuts, etc.
5. Drugs
Tobacco, sassafras, etc.
ESSENTIAL ARCHEOLOGICAL DATA
The most important archeological evidence as interpreted by
this writer at Jamestown may be summarized as follows:
1. Jamestown Island is a river shoal formation created by
tide and current action on the shelf between the channel and
the shore, and as such is continually building up at the lower
end and eroding at the upper, or western, end. Fingerlike
projections of these shoals between the river and the low
scarplike main body of the island tend to become filled-in
marshes. The southern shore eroded less, but perceptibly,
especially between Orchard Run and Church Point, where the
major portion of the settlement occupied favorable ground.
2. Because of this erosion, the site of the First Fort of 1607
has been completely covered by the James River at a point
between the present channel and the seawall opposite the
Confederate Fort of 1861. Although underwater offshore tests
failed to reveal evidence of the First Fort, the absence of
17th-century traces of any kind at the alternative location
east of Orchard Run (Forman's hypothesis) places the 1607
fort most probably offshore from the Confederate Fort and
the church.
3. Farther downstream below the Confederate Fort, the
cemetery of the church of 1639-47 has been partly eroded,
and in the gently crescentic beach area between here and
Orchard Run the land has eroded not less than 150 feet, since
1607, probably destroying the First Statehouse.
4. The Confederate Fort of 1861 (covering an early 17th-
century soil zone) could not be tested extensively enough to
furnish habitation structure evidence. An early armorer's forge
pit intruding into the 17th-century zone yielded evidence of
the changing from obsolete gun parts in the first quarter of
the century. This forge location implies strongly the proximity
of the original fort location, now offshore, since it undoubtedly
was located in the central part of the community at the time
of its use.
5. Beneath the 17th-century soil zone and the fill of the
Confederate Fort near the 1639-47 church, a well-defined
zone of Indian occupation lay in direct contact with the his-
torical debris. This Indian occupation was characterized by
flaked stone points and sherds either plain, cord marked, fabric
impressed, or incised. Each type was divided between sand
and shell tempering. The shell tempering predominated.
These artifacts, stone and pottery alike, could be anything in
the archeological lexicon of 1958 from "Early Woodland" to
"Late Woodland," or anything from the time of Christ to
1607. From the stratigraphy, the Indian site was abandoned
shortly before Jamestown was settled. Hence, we may regard
the site as late prehistoric and safely assume that the culture
here represented was not materially different from the historic
Algonquians of the time of contact.
6. The Community. In his Architecture and Town Planning
in Connecticut Anthony Garvan has stated, "The cultural
origin of its people forms the highly imperfect framework
163
upon which any description of seventeenth-century Connecticut
architecture and town planning must hang." (Garvan, 1951,
p. 1.)
The same could, of course, be said of Jamestown. In fact,
Garvan likens the plan of Jamestown, as it was known to him
in 1951, to that of a company town in Ireland, with the fort
resembling an Ulster bawn erected at a short distance from
the town (Garvan, 1951, p. 39-40). Archeological evidence,
although yet incomplete due to the bulk of the Confederate
Fort of 1861, strongly suggests that, indeed, "the homes of
the settlers huddled closely around the church and its lands"
(noting, of course, that at Jamestown the church lands were
restricted to the churchyard). However, once the community
had extended from the bounds of the First Fort, it rapidly
progressed eastward past the church and, in the first quarter
of the 17th century, occupied the whole shore from church-
yard to Orchard Run.
But it must be kept in mind that Jamestown was never a
successful, integrated community. Despite the confident and
ambitious directives from the Virginia Company of London
and the government to the settlers to build lodgings for the
new immigrants, hospital facilities, and brick houses, the fact
was that far fewer brick houses were built than the records
imply. The evidence from the ground at Jamestown shows
that, while bricks were made from the ready raw clay materials
at an early date, the earliest brick buildings were either re-
moved and the bricks reused or were situated mainly along
the shore which was subsequently eroded. Our strong sus-
picion is that the First Statehouse was in the latter category.
Most of the brick houses that have been excavated are demon-
strably in the second half of the 17th century, and probably
lasted well into the 18th century. In fact, the French military
map of Jamestown Island of 1781 shows some 20 houses. The
fact that the British were said to have left these houses in
ruinous condition indicates that most of them were probably
brick, otherwise they might have been totally destroyed. The
earliest surviving brick-house evidence does not antedate 1640,
if the associated artifact evidence is considered.
If a marketplace or common area was left open in the
Jamestown community as it took form, its presence cannot
be demonstrated from archeological evidence, except for the
relatively vacant aspect of the area between Ditch 29 and the
river, east of the churchyard. Also the major portion of the
grounds west of the church tower may have accommodated a
market place at an early stage of development at Jamestown.
However, taking into consideration the elongated, restricted
character of the available ground for housing on the island,
and the sporadic growth of the settlement which was unwilling
to become a community due to the preference of the planters
to live away from it, it is not surprising that Jamestown did
not develop into the basic pattern of the nucleated village with
its church, green, and cottages. Furthermore, the orientation
of the Jamestown house pattern was almost surely governed
in large part by the branching of the "greate road" into
"front" and "back streete," all paralleling the river. The
location of "back streete" at least can be surmised by the
placement of the major east-west ditches (24 and 66), although
the "front streete" location may well have been lost in the
river, and Road 2 evidence shown on the archeological base
map (in pocket) is the location of a road extant to the 20th
century and of origin unknown.
The development of community life and village planning in
Virginia as it stemmed from Jamestown was markedly at vari-
ance with that of the New England communities in several
important respects. The dire times of high mortality and
economic failure came first. This was capped by the disaster
of the Indian massacre of 1622, even after the economy had
begun to prosper. Then came the rapid rise of population and
the increasing wealth of plantations and small communities
beyond Jamestown. All this spelled the end of any real
development of the first settlement site as a town. The tend-
ency was a virtual explosion of population into the land secure
from immediate Indian attack, forming a basis for the scattered
plantation system of the 18th century and the quick and wide-
spread exploitation of great areas of land. Nevertheless, the
constant communication and occasional personal visits to Eng-
land by the men of responsibility and means meant the swift
introduction of ideas of house building and furnishing as they
developed in England. Particularly noticeable is the importa-
tion, especially after the Great Fire of London, in 1666, of
the brick town house concept with its utilization of joined
dwellings. Two laterally-extended row houses such as the
Ludwell-Statehouse and Structure 112 rows were one way of
building connected houses. More characteristic of the crowded
urban brick house row, however, was Structure 17, considered
by others to include the First Statehouse, in which the long
axes of the house units are parallel to each other (another
suggestion of the lateness of this structure).
It is useless to look for evidence of the first frame structures
at Jamestown — those of the chaotic struggle to establish a
settlement. They have not been found, and they probably
have left no trace. The houses of the First Fort disappeared
into the river. Those of the area immediately north of the
First Fort were either masked by the earthwork of the Con-
federate Fort and have not been located by the limited testing
there, or were obliterated by the scraping up of earth for the
fill inside and around the 1861 fort.
Between the church and Orchard Run are traces of frame
houses with brick chimneys. Here we probably have the
earliest structural use of brick represented, whether or not the
particular houses which we have found are themselves the
oldest yet uncovered. Lack of permanence and continuity at
Jamestown from the beginning was marked by the frightful
mortality. The impermanence is further understood when we
consider the youth of the early settlers as well as the quick
disintegration of timbering made of inadequately cured wood
in a damp climate, to say nothing of frequent fires and the
reluctance of the more substantial planters (later) to build
164
permanent houses on the island as they were importuned to do
by the government. Such factors explain the paucity of sub-
stantial material possessions left in evidence. Thus natural,
cultural, and historical factors at Jamestown all combine to
leave to posterity only the most durable (not necessarily the
most common or typical) houses, mainly brick. And nearly
all of these are from the second half of the 17th century.
The Churches. Since the church is a feature of foremost
importance during and at the close of the medieval English
period, the church structures and their remaining evidence at
Jamestown are of particular interest. The first structural frame
churches at Jamestown are lost. The church of 1617, a frame
building, is believed on good deductive evidence to have stood
on a light brick and cobble footing which is traceable partly
within the area of the last church foundation, that of the
1639-47 brick structure which was rebuilt after 1676. Sig-
nificantly, these church foundations were situated closest to
the indicated oldest part of the settlement which lay within
the ramparts of the First Fort on the original extension of
Church Point. It seems unquestionable that the community
grew in this logical fashion, with the church of 1617 placed
just outside the decaying and obsolete fort. The Vale, a
marsh between the third and fourth ridges, prevented extension
to the north and west of the church, and the third ridge
itself scarcely contained room for more than the original
cemetery and later the superimposed Ludwell-Statehouse row.
Therefore, the community had to grow eastward, downriver
between Pitch and Tar Swamp and the James River to Orchard
Run.
That Jamestown was perennially unpopular and offered little
inducement to expand is further testified by the fact that
archeological investigations have produced no indication of
17th-century occupation east of Orchard Run in the Elay-
Swann tract. Likewise, the habitable land north of Pitch and
Tar Swamp was carefully tested and found to have left evidence
only of a single brick house, Structure 1.
Cemeteries. If all other proof of the location of the First
Fort off Church Point were lacking, the finding of the addi-
tional, and possibly the original, cemetery on the third ridge
beneath the Ludwell-Statehouse foundations would clearly
establish that the fort was never below Orchard Run. The
newly-discovered cemetery is a logical indication that the set-
tlers found the ridge beyond the Vale the first accessible
ground in which to bury the incredible numbers who perished
during the Starving Time (1609-10) and the first decade of
the settlement. The area immediately outside the fort in the
location of the present churchyard would have been too close
and too conspicuous. Furthermore, later use of this ground
would have disturbed earlier graves, and such evidence has not
been indicated here.
For those not buried in cemeteries there remained, with
doubtful legality, the ditches. Most outside burials were mani-
festly Indian.
Evidence of the Character of famestoivn. Archeological evi-
dence of industry at Jamestown does not go beyond the presence
of a few crafts and domestic manufacture. At Glasshouse
Point, just off the island beyond the isthmus, glassmaking was
twice attempted, failed both times, and was not carried on
beyond 1622. Although the evidence of the furnaces, the
furnace pots and traces of melted glass is well-preserved, there
is a curious lack of finished glass artifact evidence, further
testifying to the utter failure of the enterprise. Ceramic
manufacture endured longer since traces are more extensive.
Much locally made pottery is encountered, and one kiln for
earthenware, lead-glazed pottery is known. Oyster shell was
fired in kilns for slaked lime. Brick- and tile-making was
carried on, with evidence of work from the first to the last
quarter of the 17th century represented in the remains of 3
kilns. A probable brewhouse is represented by a brick founda-
tion with a tile floor, large fireplace, and 3 fire boxes for
heating large receptacles. Ironmaking and ironworking was
done locally, and is attested by 2 pits — 1 a forge and 1 for
general ironworking and smelting. In all, 2 foci of industry
are suggested at Jamestown, one near Pitch and Tar Swamp
and the other along the James River shore.
One of the main occupations at Jamestown especially in
the latter half of the 17th century, was tavern keeping. This
is attested by historical record and well supported by archeo-
logical evidence of wine-storage cellars, much broken wine-
bottle debris and many clay pipes and potsherds. Houses built
for residences were often used for other purposes, such as
taverns, and on occasion, for office buildings, as the first two
statehouses. The Second Statehouse may possibly be repre-
sented by a large structure (112) near Pitch and Tar Swamp.
This mansionlike house had a separate kitchen, an icehouse,
and a smokehouse or milkhouse a short distance away. The
possible brewhouse may also have been part of this large
establishment during one period of its use.
While a large amount of lead-glazed utility earthenware
was made locally, much domestic pottery was imported from
England, Germany, and the Netherlands. The presence of
Dutch gin bottles and Dutch and German ceramics throughout
the occupation, from the first quarter of the 17th century, gives
solid testimony to the independent character of the early Vir-
ginians, who are said to have welcomed Dutch and other
foreign trade in defiance of the obligation to deal with the
mother country. (A large proportion of Jamestown glass was
made in Holland, Germany, and Italy.)
One of the principal contributors to ubiquitous disease at
Jamestown can be demonstrated archeologically (as well as
historically) in the wells, all of which were shallow and easily
contaminated by ground water. If they had been any deeper
(as the well in the First Fort perhaps was) they would have
tapped brackish water, and would have been useless, in any
case. Most of the wells were uncased except for the barrel
at the bottom, and possibly a rough board siding. A few were
brick lined.
Tracts and Ditches. The exact location of the few tracts
165
which have come down to us in the historical records of the
Ambler Papers and the Land Office at Richmond, Va., is not
easily tied to archeological evidence. Most of the tracts are
located only with reference to other tracts, rather than to
enduring landmarks. However, the multitude of ditches and
ditch traces which have been disclosed by test excavations, plus
the church, Ludwell-Statehouse row, and the "brick bridge"
across Pitch and Tar Swamp all have aided in defining the
tracts. What is missing is the original shoreline of the James
River to the south. For this reason and because of the uncertain
location of "front streete," historians in the future are warned
that the southern tracts may be pulled considerably farther
south into the present location of the river without doing
violence to the remainder of the tract picture. (The "back
streete" may, indeed, have been quite wide.)
Identification of Houses at Jamestown. Certain houses have
been associated with tracts, and thus with certain owners of
the tracts; also, speculation has prompted some observers to
associate certain house remains with the First Statehouse, the
Country House, or Governor's house in the "Sherwood" tract.
Despite these and other speculations, the fact remains that
ownership of only two structures is finally and definitely iden-
tified. These identified structures are the Ludwell-Statehouse
row and the foundations of the two churches. Tract and arti-
fact associations lead us to suspect certain houses quite reason-
ably to have belonged to Ralph Wormley and Henry Hartwell,
but the final proof is, and probably will always be, lacking.
The precise location of the tracts of land themselves, and even
their shape, may never be known accurately. Generalizations,
however, are significant. First, the use of brick for houses, as
we have seen, was either in chimneys or footings of frame
houses, or for houses entirely walled with brick. Such houses
were definitely built in the 17th century, most of them, espe-
cially the all-brick types, in the second half. Many houses
were standing well into the 18th century, and at least 20
houses were standing on the island in 1781. Thus the historical
assumption occasionally heard, that Jamestown was abandoned
after the removal of the capital to Williamsburg in 1698, is
unwarranted. The Ambler House, owned by the family which
was to make the island their plantation, was, of course, standing
by 1720.
Conclusion. The purpose of archeological investigation at
Jamestown is largely to illuminate, supplement, and correct or
verify historical data and sociological evidence. Here was a
community doomed as soon as the plantation pattern was
stamped upon Virginia by the development of tobacco after
the first quarter of the 17th century. There were other
reasons, to be sure, beginning with the wretched health con-
ditions and seasonal flooding of land access routes. But the
plantation owner, following the inexorable demands of a single,
fast-profit crop requiring cultivation by many hands, had to
seek a dependable source of labor. Indentured servants were
transitory, expensive and intractable as a rule. The Indians
were, by their culture pattern, unsatisfactory plantation labor,
with their refusal to be subjugated by European masters.
There was no changing the Indians by any method the settlers
could manage.
With Negroes introduced by Dutch traders in 1619 it was
different. By tradition familiar with capture and slavery by
their own race in West Africa, the Negro was better adapted to
labor as a slave in Virginia plantations, just as he had proved
better than the Indian slaves of the Caribbean Islands in the
16th and 17th centuries. And, as in plantation economy
everywhere, the owners depended upon profits to purchase
manufactured goods. Following the initial failure of such
specialized and skill-demanding industries as glassmaking and
ironmaking by reasons of incompetence and misfortune, the
planters were content to look abroad for supplies and equip-
ment. Only the essential home industries most suited to
materials at hand were fostered: brick, ceramic tile, and vessel
making. And these industries were also abetted by the diffi-
culty of importing quantities of such materials from overseas.
Thus, the story of social and historical trends at Jamestown,
evident in the records, is given fuller meaning by data derived
from the earth at the site. Here, then, history tells about
dates, events, and people ; sociology, anthropology, and eth-
nology combine to throw light upon the acculturation of settlers
and Indians alike in the filter of the frontier; archeology checks,
tests, and illustrates them all.
Future Archeological Exploration. In 1957 systematic trench
testing at Jamestown ended, it is hoped, forever. New field
techniques employing such devices as the proton magnetometer
(Aitken, 1958) which employs nuclear resonance to detect
underground features without excavating should be employed
at sites like Jamestown — even if we must wait until the cele-
brations of 2007 to use the new techniques.
166
Artifact Illustrations
Plates 67-91
PLATE 67 — Building Hardware
Upper. — Various types of hinges.
Lower. — A general assortment of 17th-century nails, spikes, staples, and general hardware.
168
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PLATE 68 — Door and Window Hardware
Upper. — Types of padlocks, keys, door locks, and escutcheon plates.
Right. — Wrought-iron window casement and equipment from Structure 1
in Unit A, north of Pitch and Tar Swamp.
Lower.— Fragment of glass in lead cames from a casement window found
at the floor level of Structure 19A in front of the vault door.
170
PLATE 69 — Brick and Roofing Materials
Upper. — Some brick types found at Jamestown. Except for 2 "Dutch
bricks," lower left, these bricks were probably made locally.
Lower. — Representative 17-century roofing materials.
Upper lejt. — Wooden shingle fragment found in the early 17th-century
Well 20.
Upper right. — Curved pantiles.
Lower lejt. — Flat clay tiles, examples of which were found ready for
firing at the brick kiln, Structure 102.
Lower right. — Slate fragments.
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171
PLATE 70— Tiles and Ornamental Plaster
Ornamental plaster (pargetry) fragments. All pieces shown were excavated from the fill of Structure 31 except the lion's head, upper right, which
came from the fill of Room A, Structure 112.
Delft tiles. Two at right (J-7623) are from Structure 1; two at left (J-7718) are
from Ditch 5 associated with Structure 34-37. The playing children motif is charac-
teristic of the many delft tiles from Ditch 5 and vicinity.
172
PLATE 71 — Fireplace Tools and Accessories
Upper left. — The iron tongs (Old cat. 792) at the top was found in a
fireplace of Structure 17, probably the west unit. The shovel handle
(J-1908), also of iron, came from Structure 15. The iron shovel
(J-206), which doesn't fit the handle, but matches in type, was found
near Structure 18. The brass tongs at the bottom left (J-8678) were
found in the vicinity of Structure 34-37.
Upper right. — Iron trammel, handwrought, of a 17th-century type. This
specimen was found on the grounds of the Association for the Preser-
vation of Virginia Antiquities at Jamestown, probably in the Ludwell-
Statehouse excavation of 1903.
Left. — Seventeenth-century andiron with cherub's head (J-2978) exca-
vated near Structure 31, the possible site of William Sherwood's house.
173
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PLATE 72 — Tools Used in Building and Timbering
Upper. — Selection of iron tools used in building — hammers, scribers,
chisels, race knife, hewing ax, adz, bits, gouges, gimlets.
Lower. — Tools used in timbering — axes, hatchet, adz, saw fragment, wedge.
174
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PLATE 73 — Farming Tools
Iron hoes representative of 17th-century types. Lower left from Green Spring.
Fragment of pitchfork, shovel, and felling ax.
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PLATE 74 — Horse Gear
Upper. — Examples of bits and brass ornaments (or bosses).
Middle left. — Typical stirrups and spurs.
Middle right. — Branding iron with initials TR (Cat. J-561) found in or near Ditch 2 at a depth of 12 inches.
Lower. — Currycombs and horseshoes.
176
PLATE 75 — Military Weapons — Gun Parts and Polearms
Upper. — Early 17th-century gun parts, including early gunlocks, 2 musket barrels, and a bullet mold. Three guncocks are at the bottom. The gunlock
plate at the left (J-8518) is from the Forge, Structure 139, within the APVA Confederate Fort; the gunlock at the top, center (J-9160), is from
another forge pit or ironworking pit, Structure 111, "Kiln C." The shorter gun barrel is from Structure 110.
Lower. — Polearms from early Jamestown: The bill (top) is from the APVA collection and is of no known provenience. However, the probability is
that it was found either at the church by Tyler in 1901 or at the site of the Fourth Statehouse-Ludwell House excavation by Yonge in 1903. The
halberd at bottom (Cat. J- 10647) was found in refuse deposited above Well 21 in association with other artifacts characteristic of the first quarter
of the 17th century.
177
PLATE 76 — Military Weapons — Broadsword and Cutlass
Upper. — Early broadsword and sword guards, including a basket hilt, all from Refuse Pit 1.
Lower. — Cutlass from Zone C of Refuse Pit 1 (J-9721).
178
PLATE 77 — Lead-Glazed Earthenware
Types of lead-glazed earthenware made at Jamestown. The whole pot, upper left (J-7008), with
finger-marked fillet around the rim was found in Lot 94:103 in the vicinity of Structure 21. The
smaller pot next to it was found in Structure 111, Kiln A. The pot with the single vertical loop
handle, top right (J-7085) was found in Structure 110. The fragmentary bowl at the center
(J-7087) came from Structure 111. The sub-conical cup (J-7550) at the lower right originally had
a vertical loop handle, and was found in the vicinity of Structure 19.
English lead-glazed earthenware, including sand-tempered (or coarse-tempered) ware. Mostly made in North
Devon. The handled chafing dish (J-7473) at the left was found in the fill of Well 11. The 3-legged pot with stem
handle at the bottom of the group (J-7308) was found near Structure 51.
179
PLATE 78 — Lead-Glazed Earthenware
Sampling of 17th-century, lead-glazed earthenware "slipware" at Jamestown. The vertical loop-handled pot at the left with the
stylized bird motif (J-7542) was found deep in Ditch 5, behind Structure 34-37, in the Henry Hartwell tract, as was the tall jug
at the right (J-7584) with the fragmentary handle. Most of this ware was made in England, but a small amount may have been
manufactured in Virginia in the 17th century.
Pottery cooking utensils from 17th-century Jamestown, including a baking dish, 3-legged pot, and vessel with cover.
The pot lid (J-7485) was found singly above Structure 33 drain, and the matching pot (J-7484) was also found in the
Hartwell tract, close by. The squared baking dish (Old cat. 285) was found in Ditch 5, behind Structure 34-37. Vessels
of the same type as the pictured 3-legged pot with stem handle have been found in the Hartwell tract and the vicinity of
the Country House (probably Structure 38).
180
PLATE 79 — Locally made Lead-Glazed Earthenware
Jpper left. — Lead-glazed earthenware jar, glazing on inside only, 8^/2
inches high, found at Structure 111, Kiln A, and undoubtedly made
there (Cat. J-7089).
j>wer left. — Hard-fired earthenware pot, lead-glazed (green) on in-
terior. This warped and fractured pot, an obvious waster, was found
at a depth of V/2 to 2V2 feet in Well 5. (Cat. J-7598.)
Upper right. — Jar fragments unearthed at and very near pottery Kiln A,
Structure 111 (Lot 102:103), in 1955, restored to show whole pot
form. The vessel was about 7V2 inches high and had a rim diameter
of 3 inches. An estimated date, based on association and other type
specimens is 1640-50.
Lower right. — This vessel may have been made in Kiln A of Structure
111, 1650 or earlier. It was found near Structure 110, the presumed
brewhouse. (Cat. J-7085.)
181
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PLATE 80 — English Sgraffito-ware
Upper. — Examples of English sgraffito-ware from the Barnstaple district. These and nearly all other whole or restorable English sgraffito specimens
came from Ditch 5, directly east of Structure 34-37, a presumed kitchen on the Henry Hartwell tract. (Left is J-7341; right, J-7345.)
Lower. — Sgraffito-ware made in North Devonshire, about 1640-80. Shown are plates, pitchers, cup, and candelholder, all from Ditch 5, immediately
east of Structure 34-37.
182
PLATE 81 — Salt-Glazed Stoneware
Upper. — Large salt-glazed stoneware jug dated 1661, known variously as "Graybeard,"
"Bartmann," and "Bellarmine," with grayish-white body, brown mottled surface
(made at Frechen?). This specimen was found in the 1934 excavations of Structure
17. The earliest reliable date of reference for Structure 17 artifacts is thus post
1661. Most of these fall in the last quarter of the 17h century and into the 18th
century. (Old cat. 46.)
Lower. — Assortment of German salt-glazed stoneware representative of 17th-century Jamestown. The restored jug, second from left (J-7553), was
found in the fill of the late 17th-century brick kiln, Structure 102. The larger jug, third from left (J-7517), was found in Structure 19. The
mottled brown bellarmine (J-7147) was found in the fill of the early 17th-century feature, Well 21, and the slightly larger bellarmine (J-7776)
on the right, which is incomplete, came from the fill of Feature 108, a refuse deposit above Well 21.
183
PLATE 82 — Tin-Enameled Earthenware
Upper. — Examples of English tin-enameled earthenware, referred to com-
monly as "delftware."
Left. — Lisbon majolica bowl fragment (J-7778) found in the Structure
21 area (Lot 94:103).
Lower. — Hispanic ware: Collection of tin-enameled earthenware un-
earthed at Jamestown. (Excepted are the 2-handled jugs which are
lead-glazed. These were found in the fill of Structure 112.) The large
Lisbon Majolica plate (J-7328) to the left was found near Structures
21 and 46, near the shore. The plate to the right was found in the
vicinity of Structure 19 (Old cat. 2089).
184
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PLATE 83 — Slip-ware and Porcelain
Examples of various types of slipware: Upper right and left, marbled, Structure 21
vicinity. Top center, redware, probably American. Lower center, combed and dotted, all
from Lot 95:103. Lower left, combed, from Lot 95:103. Lower right, from Structure
40-72. All of these examples except the marbled English redware (ca. 1640) date from
1700-1780.
English marbled slipware fragments from the first half of the 17th century, found in
the lower portion (Zone C) of Refuse Pit 1 (Lot 101:103).
Examples of Chinese porcelain from 17th-century structures at Jamestown.
185
PLATE 84— Glass Vials and Bottles
Four glass wine bottles illustrating changes in shape between 1640 and 1700. From left to right:
First — A 3-feather seal bottle, 1640 to 1660 found near Structure 18. (Old cat. 677.)
Second — Dating from 1650 to 1670, found near Structure 60. (Old cat. 7520.)
Third— Dating from 1680 to 1690, found near Structure 60. (Cat. J-7560.)
Fourth — Dating from 1670 to 1700, from near Structure 21. (Old cat. 517A.)
Three gin bottles of considerable importance as dating references: Bottle at the left ( J-73 12 ) was found on
the west side of the brick drain, Structure 33, near Structure 34-37, the presumed Henry Hartwell Kitchen. Much
of the English sgraffito at Jamestown was found in Ditch 5, where Structure 33 drain is located. The middle
bottle (J-7145) was found in the middle fill of Well 20 and is identical with a bottle from Structure 24, nearby.
The bottle on the right (Old cat. 7532) was found in the fill of Well 10, immediately north of Well 21,
another lst-quarter, 17th-century feature.
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Glass vial (J-7169) found 7 to 8 feet
deep in the fill of Well 7, Lot 96:100.
Wire closure attached to the neck of a late 17th-century wine bottle. The
wire kept the cork tight in the opening.
PLATE 85— Wine Bottle and Seals
Wine bottle with 3-feathers seal found near Structure 18 in
Lot 89:113, showing customary position of seal on shoulder of
bottle. This is one of the earlier types of bottles, dating from
1640 to 1660. (Old cat. 677.)
A representative sampling of bottle seals from Jamestown excavations. The "HG" seals are probably those of Henry Gawler who lived late in the
17th century in the vicinity of Structure 8 to 17 in the southern shore portion of Jamestown. It was here that most of his seals were scattered. The
"HH" seals indicate Henry Hartwell; most were found in Ditch 5 and in the vicinity of Structure 34-37, almost surely his property. The "FN" seal
was found in Structure 12 5 and is thought to represent Francis Nicholson, last resident Governor at Jamestown.
187
PLATE 86 — Wineglasses
Venetian glass goblet (Old cat. 1771) restored
from fragments found under Structure 35, a walk of
the Ambler garden, from 1 foot 7 inches to 2 feet 9
inches below the 1940 surface. This goblet dates from
the 4th quarter of the 17th century.
Early 17th-century wineglass fragments from Jamestown excavations. The two
goblets are restored in wax from the incorporated original stem fragments. These
are, left (Old cat. 1771), from Structure 35, and right (Old cat. 773), from
Ditch 5. The large stem fragment in the center (J-7052) is from Structure 128,
ice pit, Zone B; next to it, to the left, is a stem fragment (Old cat. 5771) from
Well 10, near Structure 35.
Lower. — Wineglass fragments with makers' marks on the stems. Two "sealed" examples
here are definitely Ravenscroft wares; two others in the collection may be.
Left— From Ditch 66 (Old cat. 5618).
Middle, upper — From near Ditch 28 (Old cat. 6548).
Middle, lower — From Structure 33, drain (Old cat. 5791).
Right— From Ditch 5 (Old cat. 6309).
188
PLATE 87 — Metal Objects — Knives, Forks, and Spoons
Seventeenth century knives, forks, and spoons from Jamestown exca-
vations. The spoon on the left is a trifid type. The center spoon of silver
(J-7053) has a slipped end on which the initials ^L^ appear; it was
h
found near Structure 44 in the John Page tract. The spoon (J-7183) to
the right, with a seal end was found near Structure 19 and Well 11.
The first knife from left (J-6935) was found in the ice pit, Structure
128. The fork and knife handles are of bone.
A general sampling of pins, needles, thimbles, and a pair of scissors
from the Jamestown artifact collection.
Latten spoon with seal handle
(ca. 1600-1650). It was found
near Structure 19 at a depth of 1
foot 1 inch, almost directly above
Well 11. (Old cat. 698.)
This pewter spoon handle, un-
earthed at Jamestown, is the oldest
dated piece of American pewter
in existence. It was made by
Joseph Copeland of Chuckatuck,
Va., in 1675. Reconstruction at
right approximate shape.
189
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PLATE 88 — Afe/a/ Objects — Buckles and Buttons
Upper. — A representative selection of buckles and buttons unearthed at Jamestown. Most are brass, with a few copper specimens
included.
Lower. — Furniture hardware from Jamestown excavations: Drawer pulls, knobs, escutcheon plates, upholstering tacks, small
locks, mostly brass.
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PLATE 89— Miscellaneous Metal Objects
Lead bale clips excavated at 17th-century sites. They were used for attaching to bales of woolen cloth. The numbers on the clips
attested the quality and length of the cloth being shipped. The seal in the upper left-hand corner was found in the lime kiln, Structure 46,
near Structure 21. The third seal from the left, top, was found in Structure 21.
Brass casting counters from Jamestown excavations. Used in Europe for making mathematical calculations, these counters
served in America as Indian trade items.
191
PLATE 90 — Miscellaneous Metal Objects — Brass Spigots and Cocks,
A Lead Tobacco Pipe, and Pewter Flask Necks
Brass spigots and cocks of the 17th century. Top spigot (J-10,477) from Lot A-38 in the vicinity of Structure 1;
bottom spigot, left (J-7025), was found at Green Spring in the early 1920's according to the donor, Clyde E.
Holmes of Williamsburg. Bottom spigot, right (J-10,483), is from the cellar of Structure 19A at a depth of 5 feet
8 inches. Cocks: Middle (J-10,479) is from Lot 95:108, near Road 3. Left top (J-10,482) is from 3 inches to 12
inches deep above Structure 34-37. Lower left (J-10,480) is from 6 inches to 7 inches deep above Structure 34-37.
A unique lead tobacco pipe was found in the superficial fill above the foundation of
Structure 19. It may be inferred that these pipes were not a success, since no others
were found.
Flask necks of pewter, attached originally to pharmaceutical bottles. The threaded neck to the left was found
2 feet 3 inches to 3 feet deep near Structure 50. The cap in the middle was found in Ditch 5, 680 feet from
Structure 50. The top and neck at the right were found in Structures 18 and 43, respectively, separated by 1,000
feet. The necks and caps fit interchangeably, thus indicating fixtures were of standard size.
i ; ".:: :
PLATE 91 — Parts of Leather Shoe with a Wooden Heel
Parts of a leather shoe with wooden heel (Cat. J-7187) were recovered from below the waterline of Well 21 (Lot 91:111) inside a wooden
barrel at the bottom. The shoe, by association with dated artifacts in the well, represents the 1626-50 period.
193
Bibliography
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Arber, Edward
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Bailey, Worth
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1938a. Summary of Documentary Data on the William May-Henry
Hartwell Property Preparatory to its Excavation, a 21 pp.
ms. report*, with plans and illustrations.
1938b. Progress Report, Archaeological Field Work, 1938 Season, a
5-page ms. report*, dated December 1, 1938, with maps
and photographs.
1940a. Archeological Report: May-Hartwell Site, Jamestown, a 141
pp. ms. report*, with maps and illustrations.
1940b. Field and Laboratory Guide for Recording Archeological Data,
Lithoprinted. National Park Service, Colonial National
Historical Park, Va.
1940c. Partnership at Jamestown: Archeology and History Work
Hand in Hand, The Regional Review, National Park Ser-
vice, Vol. V, Nos. 2 & 3, pp. 2-6.
194la. Archeological Report, Exploratory Excavations in Unit A,
Jamestown Island, Virginia, a 48-page ms. report*,
dated March 20, 1941, with maps and photographs.
194lb. The Elay-Swann Tract, Jamestown Island, Virginia, a ms.
report*, dated May 15, 1941, illustrated with maps and
photographs.
1942a. Progress Report on the 1941 Excavations in the A. P. V. A.
Grounds, Jamestown Island, Virginia, a ms. report*.
1942b. Progress Report on the 1941 Excavations in the Grounds of
The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiqui-
ties, Jamestown Island, a 15-page ms. report*, with maps
and photographs.
1943. Historic Site Archaeology in the United States, Eastern United
States Archaeology. University of Chicago Press, Chicago,
111.
1946. Interpreting Jamestown to the Visitor, The Museum News,
Vol. 24, No. 11, pp. 7 and 8.
1950. Seventeenth Century Brickmaking and Tilemaking at James-
town, Virginia, The Virginia Magazine of History and
Biography, Vol. 58, No. 1, pp. 16-39.
1951a. Some Delft Tiles Found at Jamestown, The Magazine An-
tiques, Vol. LIX, No. 1, pp. 36-37.
1951b. Tobacco Pipes from Jamestown, Quarterly Bulletin, Archeo-
logical Society of Virginia, Vol. 5, No. 4; p. 2-8, illus-
trated.
1952. Glassmaking at Jamestown, The Dietz Press, Richmond, Va.,
48 pp.
1954. Dating Stem Fragments of Seventeenth and Eighteenth Cen-
tury Clay Tobacco Pipes, Quarterly Bulletin, Archeological
Society of Virginia, September, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 10-14.
1957. The Tools of America's First Glass Blowers, The Chronicle
of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., Vol. X,
No. 1, pp. 4, 5, 6, and 11.
• In the National Park Service files at Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia.
196
Hatch, Charles E., Jr.
1939. A Preliminary Historical Study, Unit A, Northwestern End of
Jamestown Island in Colonial National Historical Park, a
98-page typewritten report*, dated September 14, 1939,
with maps and photographs.
1940a. A Preliminary Historical Study of the Wyatt Tract of 1641
(Including a Grant to Richard Kemp in 1638) on James-
town Island in Colonial National Historical Park, a 125-
page ms. report*, dated June 7, 1940, with maps and
photographs.
1940b. A Preliminary Historical Study of Glass House Point (With
Special Emphasis on the First Attempts at Glassmaking in
Virginia, a 119-page ms. report*, dated December 4,
1940, with maps and photographs.
194 la. Glassmaking in Virginia, 1607-1625, The William and Mary
College Quarterly, Vol. 21, Series 2, No. 2, pp. 119-138
and No. 3, pp. 227-238.
194 lb. Preliminary Historical Study of the Lawrence and Beverley
Tracts, Jamestown Island, a ms. report*, dated August 15,
1941, with maps and photographs.
1942a. Jamestown and the Revolution, William and Mary College
Quarterly, Vol. 22, Series 2, No. 1, pp. 30-38.
1942b. Robert Sully at Jamestown, 1854, William and Mary College
Quarterly, Vol. 22, Series 2, No. 4, pp. 343-352.
1945. The "Affair Near James Island" (or, "The Battle of Green
Spring"), Virginia Magazine of History and Biography,
Vol. 53, Series 2, No. 3, pp. 172-196.
1949a. The Great Road: Earliest Highway Used and Developed by
the English at Jamestown, Virginia Magazine of History
and Biography, Vol. 57, Series 2, No. 1, pp. 14-21.
1949b. A Suggested Interpretive Development Plan for Jamestown,
a 65 pp. ms.*
1951. Selected References to Support the "Sketch Plan of the First
Fort Built by the English at Jamestown." Drawing No.
NMP-COL 10,702*, a 31 pp. ms., with plan.
1953. A Summary of Documentary Information About James Fort
(1607-1610), A 12 pp. ms. Report* with illustration.
1954. Summarv of Data Relating to "Neck-of-Land Neare James
City," a ms. report*, dated October 28, 1954.
Hatch, Charles E., Jr.
1956. America's Oldest Legislative Assembly and its Jamestown
Statehouses, National Park Service Interpretive Series His-
tory No. 2, Revised, 1956, Government Printing Office,
Washington, D. C.
1957a. Mulberry Trees and Silkworms, Virginia Magazine of His-
tory and Biography, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond,
Va., January, Vol. 65, No. 1, pp. 3-61.
1957b. Jamestown, Virginia: The Townsite and Its Story, National
Park Service Historical Handbook Series No. 2, Govern-
ment Printing Office, Washington, D. C.
1957c. First Seventeen Years: Virginia, 1607-1624, Virginia 350th
Anniversary Celebration Corporation, Garrett and Massie,
Inc., Richmond, Va.
Hening, William Waller
1823. Statutes at Large, R. & W. and G. Bartow, New York.
Hrdlicka,
1916.
1927.
Physical Anthropology of the Lenape or Delawares, and of
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Museum, Vol. 69, pp. 24-27.
Hudson, J. Paul
1955a. Exhibit Plan for Pottery-Making Demonstration Area at
Jamestown, Virginia, a ms. report*, dated August 11,
1955.
1955b. Proposed Field Exhibit on Lumbering at Jamestown During
the Seventeenth Century, a ms. report*, dated August 19,
1955.
1955c. Preliminary Plan for Field Exhibit on Boatbuilding at James-
town During the Seventeenth Century, a ms. report*,
dated August 31, 1955.
1955d. Proposed Field Exhibit on a Jamestown Ice House, A ms.
report*, dated September 26, 1955.
195 5e. Proposed Field Exhibit for Jamestown Island Relating to a
Vineyard and the Making of Wine, a ms. report*, dated
October, 1955.
1955f. Making Casks at Jamestown During the Seventeenth Cen-
tury, a ms. report*, dated October 27, 1955.
1955g. Field Exhibit for Jamestown Relating to an Early Seventeenth
Century Tobacco Field and Tobacco Barn, a ms. report*,
dated November, 1955.
1955h. Field Exhibit Relating to the Interior Furnishings of an
Early Jamestown Home, a ms. report*, dated December,
1955.
1956a. Potash and Soap Ashes — Early Jamestown Commodities, a
ms. report*, dated July, 1956.
1956b. The Use of Herbs and Medicinal Plants at Jamestown, Vir-
ginia During the Seventeenth Century, a ms. report*,
dated November, 1956.
1956c. The Story of Iron at Jamestown, Virginia — Where Iron Ob-
jects Were Wrought by Englishmen Almost 350 Years
Ago, The Iron Worker, Vol. XX, No. 3, Summer Issue,
pp. 2-14.
Hudson, J. Paul and C. Malcolm Watkins
1957a. The Earliest Known English Colonial Pottery in America,
Antiques, Vol. LXXI, No. 1, pp. 51-54.
Hudson, J. Paul
1957b. Jamestown Artisans and Craftsmen, Antiques, Vol. LXXI,
No. 1, pp. 47-50.
1957c. A Pictorial Booklet on Early Jamestown Commodities and
Industries, Virginia 350th Anniversary Celebration Cor-
poration, Garrett and Massie, Inc., Richmond, Va.
1957d. Recent Discoveries at Jamestown, Virginia, The Connoisseur,
National Magazine Company, Ltd., London, pp. 133-138.
Hughes, Thomas P.
1957. Medicine in Virginia, 1607-1699, Virginia 350th Anniversary
Celebration Corporation, Garrett and Massie, Inc., Rich-
mond, Va.
Hume, Ivor Noel
1957. A Seventeenth Century Virginian's Seal: Detective Story in
Glass, Antiques, Vol. LXXII, No. 3, pp. 244-245.
Jones, T. Russell (HABS drawing)**
1958a. VA 470, Architectural Remains, Project 194, (Structure 115),
3 sheets, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
1958b. VA 471, Architectural Remains, Project 194, (Structure 117),
1 sheet, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
1958c. VA 472, Architectural Remains, Project 103, (Structure 123),
1 sheet, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
1958d. VA 473, Architectural Remains, Project 103, (Structure 125),
1 sheet, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
* In the National Park Service files at Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia.
** Historic American Buildings Survey drawings illustrated in this book, as well as
those cited but not shown, are available for purchase from the Library of Congress,
Washington, D. C.
197
Land, Robert H.
1939. Notes from Surry County Records Which Relate to Seven-
teenth Century Houses, William & Mary Quarterly, Vol.
19, Series 2, No. 2, pp. 227-229.
Mason, George C.
1945. Colonial Churches of Tidewater, Virginia, Whittet and Shep-
person, Richmond, Va.
Mayer, Joseph R.
1939. Early Virginia Gunlocks, Rochester Museum of Arts and
Sciences, Occasional Papers and Reprints, Reprinted from
American Collector, June, 1939.
McCary, Ben Clyde
1957. Indians in Seventeenth-Century Virginia, Virginia 350th An-
niversary Historical Booklet No. 18, 93 pp. with Bibliog-
raphy, Garrett and Massie, Inc., Richmond, Va.
Mcllwaine, H. R., Editor
1914. Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia, 1659/60-
1693, Library Board, Virginia State Library, Richmond, Va.
1918. Legislative Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia,
Library Board, Virginia State Library, Richmond, Va.
Meade, William
1857. Old Churches, Ministers, and Families in Virginia, 2 Vols.,
J. B. Lippincott and Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
Mook, Maurice A.
1943a. The Anthropological Position of the Indian Tribes of Tide-
water Virginia, William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol.
23, Series 2, No. 1, pp. 27-40.
1943b. Virginia Ethnology from an Early Relation, William and
Mary College Quarterly, Vol. 2 3, Series 2, No. 2, pp.
101-129.
1943c. The Ethnological Significance of Tindall's Map of Virginia,
1608, William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. 23, Series
2, No. 4, pp. 371-408.
1944a. Algonkian Ethnohistory of the Carolina Sound, Journal of the
Washington Academy of Sciences, Vol. 34, pp. 181-197
and 213-228.
1944b. The Aboriginal Population of Tidewater Virginia, American
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Morey, George W.
1954. The Properties of Glass, American Chemical Society Mono-
graph Series, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New York.
Morris, M. J. R.
1954. Examination of Three Brass Pins of 17th Century Manufac-
ture from Jamestown, Virginia, Republic Steel Corporation
metallurgical examination No. 7435, a ms. report*, dated
February, 1954.
Moxon, Joseph
1703. Mechanick Exercises, or the Doctrine of Handy-Works,
Printed for D. Midwinter and T. Leigh, London.
Munger, Martha Perrine
1929. James Towne, 1607-1698, Matrix of the United States,
Americana Illustrated, The American Historical Society,
Inc., Vol. XXIII, No. 3, pp. 265-275.
Neumann, Georg K.
1942. American Indian Crania with Low Vaults, Human Biology,
Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 178-191.
Oswald, Adrian
1955. The Evolution and Chronology of English Clay Tobacco
Pipes, The Archaeological News Letter, London, Vol. 5,
No. 12, pp. 243-250.
Parris, Fred P. and John T. Zaharov (HABS drawing)**
1934. VA 26, Foundations, Unit A, Subunit 39, (Structure 1), 10
sheets, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
Parris, Fred P. (HABS drawing)**
1935a. VA 25, Architectural Remains, Unit B, Subunits 89 and 97,
(Structure 17), 12 sheets, Library of Congress, Washing-
ton, D. C.
Parris, Fred P. and Paul S. Dulaney (HABS drawing)**
1935b. VA 27, Architectural Remains, Unit B, Subunits 59 and 73,
(Structure 26), 3 sheets, Library of Congress, Washing-
ton, D. C.
Parris, Fred P. (HABS drawing)**
1935c. VA 28, Architectural Remains, Unit B, Subunit 62, (Structure
6), 4 sheets, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
1936. VA 30, Architectural Remains, Unit B, Subunit 76, (Structure
16), 7 sheets, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
Peterson, Charles E.
1936. Some Recent Discoveries at Jamestown, The Magazine An-
tiques, Vol. XXIX, No. 5, pp. 192-194.
Peterson, Harold L.
1949. New Evidence on Colonial Firearms from Jamestown Excava-
tions, The Gun Collector, No. 28, June, pp. 313-316.
1951. Firearms of the Early American Colonists, The American
Rifleman, January, pp. 22-26.
1956. Arms and Armor in Colonial America, 1526-1783, Stackpole,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Rackham, Bernard
1948. Medieval English Pottery, Faber, London.
Riley, Edward M. and Charles E. Hatch, Jr., Editors
1955. James Towne: In the Words of Contemporaries, National
Park Service Source Book No. 5, Government Printing
Office, Washington, D. C.
Rolfe, John
1951. A True Relation of the State of Virginia Left by Sir Thomas
Dale Knight in May Last 16 16, Yale University Press,
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Ruggles-Brise, Sheelah
1949. Sealed Bottles, Country Life Ltd., London, Charles Scribner's
Sons, New York, pp. 161-171.
Scribner, Robert L.
1957. Digging into Jamestown's Past, Virginia Cavalcade, Vol. VII,
Summer issue, No. 1, pp. 40-47.
Shiner, Joel L.
1^55. Final Report, Archeological Explorations in the Confederate
Fort Area in the APVA Grounds (Jamestown National
Historic Site), Park Research Project No. 100, a ms. re-
port*, dated June 1955, with maps and photographs.
1957. Early Cemetery on "Third Ridge" at Jamestown, The Virginia
Magazine of History and Biography, Virginia Historical
Society, Richmond, Va., April, Vol. 65, No. 2, pp. 150-
153.
Simmons, Thomas Burke (HABS drawing)**
1955a. VA 444, Architectural Remains, Project 194, (Structure 110),
3 sheets, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
1955b. VA 445, Architectural Remains, Project 194, (Structure 112),
3 sheets, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
Smith, John
1884. Works. Edited by Edward Arber, 2 Vols., Birmingham, Ala.
* In the National Park Service files at Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia.
** Historic American Buildings Survey drawings illustrated in this book, as well
as those cited but not shown, are available for purchase from the Library of
Congress, Washington, D. C.
198
Speck, Frank G.
1924. The Ethnic Position of the Southeastern Algonkian, Ameri-
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1925. The Rappahannock Indians of Virginia, Indian Notes and
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1938. Siouan Tribes of the Carolinas as Known from Catawba,
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gist, Vol. 37, pp. 201-225.
Stern, Theodore
1952. Chickahominy: The Changing Culture of a Virginia Indian
Community, Proceedings, American Philosophical Society,
Vol. 96, pp. 157-225.
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1937. The findings of two ossuaries on the site of the Indian village
of Nacotchtanke (Anacostia), Journal Washington Acad-
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Stewart, T. D.
1940a. The Finding of an Indian Ossuary on the York River in Vir-
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No. 8, pp. 356-364.
1940b. A report on the Skeletal remains. In: A. L. L. Ferguson, An
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1954. A Method for Analyzing and Reproducing Pipe Decorations,
Quarterly Bulletin, Archeological Society of Virginia, Vol.
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Strachey, William
1953. The Historie of Travaile into Virginia Britania (1612),
Edited by Louise B. Wright and Virginia Freund, Hakluyt
Society, London.
Tyler, Lyon G.
1906. The Cradle of the Republic, Jamestown and James River, The
Hermitage Press, Richmond, Va.
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1932. Domestic Colonial Architecture of Tidewater Virginia, Scrib-
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1934. A Biometric Study of the "Flatness" of the Facial Skeleton in
Man, Biometrika, Vol. 26, parts I and II, pp. 196-250.
Yonge, Samuel H.
1903. The Site of Old Jamestown, Copyright 1930 by Association
for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, Richmond, Va.
Zaharov, John T.
1935. Report, the Foundation in Unit A, Sub-Unit 29, Jamestown
Island, James City County, Virginia, a 16-page ms. report*,
dated February 27, 1935, illustrated with 23 photographs.
No Author
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vations, The Illustrated London News, August 25, p. 307.
No Author
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350th anniversary of the settlement of Virginia, The Medi-
cal College of Virginia Foundation and The American
Association of the History of Medicine, The Jamestown-
Williamsburg-Yorktown Celebration Commission and The
Virginia 350th Anniversary Commission, Williamsburg,
Reprinted from the Bulletin of the History of Medicine,
Vol. XXXI, No. 5, September-October.
* In the National Park Service files at Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia.
199
APPENDIX A
Ceramics from Jamestown
BY EDWARD B. JELKS
Recently a specialist in prehistoric American archeology
wrote to Colonial National Historical Park at Jamestown to
ask for identification of some "post-aboriginal chinaware" from
an east-coast site. We knew what he meant, but the request
(perhaps consciously) was amusing since it is comparable to
a person's sending a collection of gun parts — from matchlocks,
flintlocks, wheel locks, and other varieties— to an arms specialist
with the request that he identify these "post-aboriginal Win-
chesters." It is common for American archeologists who are
concerned primarily with Indian cultures to use such terms as
chinaware and crockery more or less indiscriminately in refer-
ring to ceramics of European origin. The fact is that arche-
ologists who encounter an historic horizon are urgently in need
of a basic terminology and elementary definition of types to
describe colonial-period ceramics.
Since 1934 archeological explorations at Jamestown, Vir-
ginia, site of the first permanent English colony in America,
have produced a wealth of 17th-century ceramics. Nearby
Green Spring Plantation, home of Governor Berkeley and a
prototype of the southern plantations, has bridged the gap
between the 17th and 18th centuries, and Colonial Williams-
burg has amassed a good collection of 18th-century ceramics.
The National Park Service and Colonial Williamsburg are,
therefore, in a position to identify most British colonial ceramic
specimens, insofar as they are locally represented.
In view of the need for a printed checklist of essential wares
and types for reference by archeologists in the field, the follow-
ing data are offered. We are indebted to C. Malcolm Watkins,
associate curator of Cultural History, Smithsonian Institution,
for checking definitions and supplying, in advance of publica-
tion of his detailed descriptions of 17th-century colonial
pottery types, certain information from that work. The con-
stant consultation and aid furnished by J. Paul Hudson, curator
of the Jamestown collection for the National Park Service,
during all stages of excavations and laboratory study, together
with his detailed knowledge of 17th-century arts and crafts,
were also invaluable.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
All clays are composed of alumina (A1203), silica (Si02),
and water (H20), and all unrefined clays also contain various
other substances which can be classified as impurities. When
clays are mixed with water they become plastic and can be
manipulated into any desired shape. If an object made of wet
clay is dried and heated to the proper temperature, the clay
loses its plasticity and becomes rigid. It will then remain in a
rigid state unless sufficient force is directed against it to cause
it to fracture. The art of shaping, decorating, and firing clay
objects is called ceramics, a term which applies also to the
objects themselves.
Here, in very simple terms, is what happens in the manu-
facture of a ceramic object:
1. Clay is mixed with water and thoroughly blended to form
a plastic mass.
2. The plastic mixture is shaped to the desired form.
3. Most of the added water is allowed to evaporate at more
or less normal temperatures.
4. The dried clay object is heated in a kiln where the
following sequence of processes takes place:
a. Any remaining free water in the clay is driven off.
b. The water which was in combination with the silica
and alumina in the clay is driven off by the heat.
c. Some of the substances in the clay melt and fuse
together, while other substances remain unchanged. (The
silica is the essential ingredient here, for it is the silica which
melts and combines with any of several substances which can
act as fluxes. The fluxes— soda, potash, lime, and magnesia
are common ones — combine with the silica in the same chem-
ical reaction by which glass is made).
d. When the object is cooled, the melted portion solidifies
into a glassy matrix which binds together the unmelted par-
ticles so that the rigid form of the ceramic object is retained.
201
In effect, then, a ceramic object is composed of solid par-
ticles suspended in, or bonded together by, a matrix of glass
(Morey, 1954, pp. 23-24). The distinctive physical character-
istics which differentiate the pastes of various kinds of ceramics
are functions of: (1) the physical properties of the unfused
particles, (2) the physical properties of the fused matrix, and
(3) the ratio of fused to unfused materials in each particular
variety. (This ratio is determined not only by the composition
of the clay but also by the intensity and duration of firing.)
For example, the paste of a common flowerpot differs from a
porcelain cup because: (1) the unfused particles in the pot
are reddish and relatively large while those in the porcelain
are minute and white, (2) the glassy matrix of the flowerpot
is not as translucent as that of the porcelain, and (3) there is
a much greater proportion of glassy matrix in the cup than
in the pot.
Actually the physical and chemical reactions and changes
that take place during the manufacture of ceramics are ex-
tremely complex. Some of the details are not yet completely
understood, even by specialists. Since consideration of these
technical details is not necessary for purposes of the present
paper, they can be happily ignored here.
Various schemes for classifying European ceramics have been
devised on such bases as paste characteristics, decoration, kinds
of glazes or enamels, or, in some cases, a wide variety of
ceramic objects may be grouped into one class because they
were made by a particular manufacturer (e. g. Wedgwood) or
because they were made in a particular locale (e. g. Stafford-
shire ware). None of the standard classifications known to
the writer conforms to the concept of typology as commonly
applied in American archeology.
The majority of the existing classifications recognize a dif-
ference between permeable and impermeable pastes. Ceramics
of permeable paste are generally known collectively as earthen-
ware, while the impermeable pastes are divided into two large
groups, stoneivare and porcelain.
Under the heading of earthenware are usually included
"terra cotta;" "common redware" (the faience-delft-majolica
group) ; "creamware;" "Whieldon ware;" various slipwares;
"ironstone;" several kinds of "sgraffito" wares; edged wares;
some of the varieties which are included in such broad classifi-
cations as Staffordshire or Wedgwood; and many other
groupings.
Stoneware, one of the two large groups of impermeable
pastes, generally has a harder paste than the earthenwares and
is usually gray or light-brown in body color. It is exemplified
by the modern German-style beer mugs and by the churns,
crocks, and "little brown jugs" which were in common usage
in American homes in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries.
Stoneware feels slick to the tongue in contrast to earthenware,
which absorbs moisture and will usually stick to the tongue.
Porcelain, the other large division of the impermeable
pastes, refers to that kind of white ceramics which originated
in China, has kaolin as its chief unfused component, and is
distinguished by a unique translucence which is easily discern-
ible when a piece is held to the light. Porcelain is frequently
called china or chinaware.
In addition to the paste, most European ceramics found in
American sites have another important component, the glaze.
As the name implies, a glaze is simply a coating of glass applied
to the surface of the ceramic object. In the case of permeable
vessels the glaze provides an impermeable veneer so that the
vessel is better adapted as a container for liquids. When glaze
is applied to stoneware or porcelain, on the other hand, it does
not make the vessel watertight since both of these wares are
impermeable already. But it does serve to enhance its appear-
ance and to make for cleanliness.
Glazes are applied to ceramic objects by three basic methods:
(1) by coating the object with ground glass before firing,
(2) by coating the object with the unfused ingredients of glass
prior to firing (for example, red oxide of lead, ground to a
powder and mixed in water with sand or other silicious
material, was frequently employed in England for this kind of
glaze), or (3) by coating the object with a flux which com-
bines with silica from the body of the clay object itself to
form the glaze under the heat of firing. The most common
fluxes used in the latter process (with special reference to the
ceramics found at Jamestown) were sulfide of lead (PbS) —
usually in the form of powdered galena — and sodium chloride
(NaCl), or common table salt. The powdered lead sulfide
was dusted on the clay body before it was put into the kiln,
sometimes with the addition of copper salts which imparted a
greenish cast to the otherwise amber lead glaze, or occasionally
with manganese salts which rendered it black or brown-black
and sometimes almost completely opaque.
The customary way of applying sodium chloride glaze is to
bring the molded clay objects to a white heat, then to cast a
quantity of salt through the kiln door directly onto the fire.
The heat vaporizes the salt and the vapor sticks to the hot clay
in a thin film which acts as a flux and combines with silica
from the clay to form the transparent glaze. Salt glazes are
clear and thin, but have an uneven pitted surface resembling
the surface of an orange peel.
In ceramic terminology, a glaze containing additives or im-
purities which render it opaque is termed an enamel. Enamels
occur in many colors as well as in black and white. Most of
the painted decorations of European and Asiatic ceramics are
enamels. The white background of delft and majolica pottery,
for example, was made by adding tin oxide to the traditional
transparent lead glaze, thereby converting it into a white,
opaque enamel. Then designs were painted over the white
background with colored enamels.
The physical characteristics by which the Jamestown ceramics
are classified can be grouped under the headings of paste
characteristics, glaze characteristics, decoration, and form. Paste
and glaze characteristics have been discussed above. Before
beginning a discussion of form and decoration, it might be
advantageous to the reader to examine the following table
202
summarizing the preceding remarks about paste and glaze as
they apply to Jamestown ceramics:
TABLE III. — Paste and Glaze of Jamestown Ceramics
Earthenware
(permeable, opaque, porous paste with small
proportion of fused materials)
A. Terra cotta1 (unglazed earthenware)
B. Glazed earthenware
Stoneware
(impermeable, opaque, "slick" paste with
medium to large proportion of fused ma-
terials)
Porcelain
(impermeable, translucent, "slick" paste with
large proportion of fused materials)
1 According to many authorities terra cotta is classified as a separate division,
distinct from earthenware — the criterion for differentiation being that earthenware
is glazed while terra cotta is not. In colonial sites of Virginia, however, many of
the terra cotta specimens are identical in paste, form, and decoration to glazed
pieces from the same sites. From a typological point of view, therefore, it is be-
lieved that terra cotta should be classified as an unglazed earthenware and it is so
designated here.
Form and Decoration. Forms of the 17th- and 18th-century
ceramics found at Jamestown can be divided into three basic
classifications: (1) those derived from medieval and other
traditional European forms; (2) those originating in the
Orient; and (3) miscellaneous forms representing a florescence
with influences from Europe, Asia, and even classical Greece,
or combinations of these. The latter group includes many of
the elaborate and complex specimens prized by collectors.
Decoration can be classified in three groups corresponding
exactly to the basic form classification, i.e., the European
traditional, Asiatic, and florescent groups.
In broad historical perspective, the development of European
ceramics up to early 18th century followed this pattern:
1. Terra cotta
2. Glazed earthenware
3. Stoneware
4. Porcelain (Introduction to Europe through trade with the
Orient)
5. Porcelain (Western European attempts to duplicate Ori-
ental porcelain)
6. New pastes, glazes, enamels, forms, and decorations
(Creation of these came largely as an outgrowth of experi-
mentation in the search for the porcelain formula)
The historical development of European ceramics is reflected
in the basic typology of material found in American colonial
sites. The range of form and decoration exhibited by each of
the basic "wares" (earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain) is
an expression of the paste characteristics. Or, put another way,
the paste of any one particular ware has characteristics which
make certain forms and decorative techniques especially adapt-
able, while the paste characteristics of another ware lend them-
selves naturally to other forms and decorative styles.
A typological evaluation of Jamestown ceramics in historic
perspective, then, can be viewed advantageously in reference to
the three basic ceramic "wares" which influenced 17th- and
18th-century European ceramic art. The three basic "wares"
are: (1) the traditional utility earthenware which developed
out of medieval European pottery; (2) stoneware, which
originated in Europe by the beginning of the 16th century or
earlier; (3) porcelain which originated in China during the
early centuries of the Christian era— it was introduced into
Europe in considerable quantity by the middle of the 17th
century (Eberlein, 1925, pp. 38-39). It is interesting to note
that these three wares not only provided direction and impetus
to modern European and American ceramic art, but all three
have themselves remained popular through the centuries and
are still being manufactured in the traditional styles.
The utility earthenware of Jamestown is obviously a con-
tinuation of the medieval English utility earthenware (Rack-
ham, 1948). It is usually glazed on one side with an amber
lead glaze which frequently has a pale-greenish or yellowish
cast, or sometimes a black or black-brown color which is almost
opaque. The glaze was not applied evenly, as a rule, and there
are usually glaze drip marks down the sides of the vessels.
There are occasional terra cotta pieces which are entirely without
glaze. Most vessels are thick-walled, and the common forms
are large, shallow bowls and large, deep jars. Less frequent
are small jars, cups, small bowls, pitchers, chafing dishes,
candlesticks, funnels, and other utilitarian forms. Lids with a
central knob are fairly common and were evidently made to fit
the small and medium jars for the most part. There are loop
handles on many of the jars, pitchers, and cups; pouring lips
occur frequently on the pitchers and some of the jars. The
paste color of the utility earthenware is generally a reddish
hue in the salmon, pink, and brick-red range. It is the natural
color of fired local clays without any added substances. No
tempering agent is visible except in one variety which contains
small to medium quartz gravels in considerable quantity.
Decoration of the utility earthenware was achieved by ap-
pliqueing, punctating, incising, and using colored slips. Most
of the Jamestown utility earthenware vessels have a band con-
sisting of 2, 3, or 4 shallow incised lines encircling the body at
or just above the point of maximum diameter. Applique strips
bearing thumb-tip punctates were applied to the rims of many
of the large jars. The slip decorations may be just a few thin,
wavy lines (usually green or white) around the rim of a
shallow bowl, or the entire vessel may be covered with a slip
of one color with designs traced thereon in slip material of a
second color. Brown and white slips are most common in the
latter technique, with the white slip serving as the background
in most cases. Other slipped earthenware are: 1 with a
marbled effect produced by making a swirled mixture of 2 or
more colors (1 invariably white, the others, red, green, or
brown), and sgraffito (Italian for scratched) decoration made
by incising through an overall white slip so that a design of
reddish body paste shows through the slip. All slipped vari-
eties are glazed, and when amber lead glaze is used on utility
203
earthenware, the white slip material appears to be amber
colored.
European stoneware is thought to have originated in Ger-
many. In any event it had become a popular European ware
by the early 16th century (Barber, 1907, p. 5). Because of its
impermeability, stoneware is especially adapted to vessels in-
tended for holding liquids. The traditional style of stoneware
at Jamestown occurs in three basic forms: (1) a cylindrical
mug with loop handle (the common German beer or ale mug) ;
(2) jugs in varying sizes with small round base, bulging
globular body, narrow cylindrical neck, loop handle (almost
invariably), and a raised, molded effigy of a bearded man on
the neck and shoulder; and (3) a small-to-medium-size jug
with a wide, cylindrical neck, a small, round base, and a loop
handle.
Decorations on the cylindrical mugs and wide-necked jugs
include horizontal ridges and incised lines made on the wheel ;
various molded and incised floral and geometric designs; rarely
scenic panels with human and animal figures, trees, etc. Design
elements are usually painted with enamel (i. e. opaque glaze,
colored by the addition of certain metal salts), blue, purple,
and brown being the common colors. The "Bartmann" jugs
with the bearded man sometimes have a raised, molded medal-
lion on the body below the bearded face, or occasionally there
are two such medallions on opposite sides of a jug. The
surface usually has a mottled-brown appearance due to com-
bining iron from the body paste with the salt glaze. The
stoneware forms at Jamestown are invariably salt glazed, gen-
erally over the enamel.
Porcelain of the 17th and 18th centuries found at Jamestown
came from the Orient except for a few late pieces which may
possibly have been made in England or on the Continent. The
common forms are teacups without handles, saucers, and small,
deep bowls. They may either be solid white or painted with
blue geometric or floral designs.
In the early years of the 17th century, an overwhelming
demand for porcelain swept over Europe. Ever since explorers
began to bring the first pieces from the East, Europe had been
fascinated by the delicate, graceful chinaware, and the 17th
century saw the development of intensive trading activities
whereby tremendous quantities of porcelain were imported
from China, Korea and Japan. European potters, anxious to
tap the expanded market, began experimenting in hopes of
learning the secret of porcelain manufacture. It was not until
1709 that the secret was discovered by a German, but the
experiments which had been going on in the meantime gave
rise to an efflorescence of European ceramic art. It found
expression in many innovations in paste formulas and in the
Oriental flavor of the new forms and decorations.
The first popular imitation of porcelain was the majolica-
delft-faience pottery distinguished by Oriental designs painted
on an opaque white enamel applied over a porous earthenware
body. The use of enameled earthenware, particularly for
building tiles, had been introduced into Europe by the Moors,
TABLE IV. — SummtLry of 17th- and 18th-Century Ceramics
by Cultural Traditions
Cultural Tradition
Basic Wares
Varieties Present
at Jamestown
Traditional European
Earthenware
Olla, unglazed (Italian)
a. lead glazed
gravel tempered
b. unglazed
Slipped, red paste
a. marbled
b. appliqued
c. combed
d. sgraffito
Stoneware
Bartmann jug (German)
Cylindrical mug (German)
Globular jug with wide
neck (German and Eng-
lish)
Oriental
Porcelain
Cups
Saucers
Small bowls
Combination of traits from
European, Oriental, and
Near Eastern traditions
plus innovations (Euro-
pean florescence)
Earthenware
(French faience?)
Delft (English & Dutch)
Majolica (Hispanic & Por-
tuguese)
Whieldon
Creamware
Staffordshire
Agate ware
Stoneware
Salt glaze (English, white)
Basalt (English, black)
Porcelain
Soft paste porcelain (Eng-
lish and/or continental)
and the tin enameled majolica,1 with Oriental form and dec-
orative motif, resulted from a blend of the European and
Asiatic traditions. Majolica pottery appeared in its incipient
form during the late Middle Ages in the Western Mediter-
ranean area. The same general kind of pottery was later
produced in other European countries and some of the varieties
became known as delft and faience rather than majolica.
While the tin-enameled pottery was an acceptable substitute,
it was not true porcelain and, consequently, experiments aimed
toward producing true porcelain continued. As a result of
these activities it was learned that refinement of the clays and
the addition of certain substances to the clay (calcined flint,
bone, and feldspar are examples of such additives) improved
the quality of the finished product. So a number of new
varieties of ceramics were created and gained popularity. Most
of the new varieties have paste of very light color and were
fashioned into thin-walled vessels in imitation of porcelain.
Many were made whiter by the use of a white slip under the
1 The name Majolica is a corruption of Majorca, a Spanish Mediterra-
nean island whose ships transported the Valencian manufactured "Ma-
jolica" to Italy.
204
5 1/2 in.
FIGURE 23 — Section of Two-handled Hispanic Jug
Chemical analysis of the glaze from this variety showed
a total absence of tin; therefore, it is doubtful that it
should be classified technically as majolica.
glaze. The glaze, too, was improved and made perfectly
transparent so that the white slip had more the appearance of
porcelain that would have been the case if the old amber lead
glaze had been used. These new ceramic varieties which were
created in Europe and in general use by the third quarter of
the 18th century are represented at Jamestown by such English
products as Whieldon ware, creamware, Staffordshire earthen-
ware, and salt glaze ware (a stoneware). These all represent
various combinations of improved pastes containing various
additives, improved glazes, and traditional European, Oriental,
Near Eastern, and even classical Greek forms and decorative
motifs. It was also during this period that a consciousness
arose among Europeans that ceramics is an excellent medium
for artistic expression, and ceramic pieces executed entirely as
works of art appeared in significant quantities.
Table IV summarizes the present classification of 17th- and
18th-century ceramics found at Jamestown by the underlying
cultural traditions, by the physical characteristics of the basic
wares, and by the varieties of each which occur.
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF GLAZES ON A TYPE
OF CERAMIC AMPHORA FOUND AT
JAMESTOWN
A two-handled ceramic vessel, an amphora type, with a thin
coating of cream-colored glaze is found consistently in 17th-
century structures and other features at Jamestown. The form
is Western Mediterranean in general aspect and is character-
ized by the 2 opposing handles running from just below the
lip down to the shoulder; by a flattening of the trunk on 2
opposite sides ; and by a painted star design in light-red which
appears on the shoulder of some specimens. The star design
consists of 8 arms of equal length radiating from a common
center.
It was thought that this vessel type might belong to the
general group of tin-glazed earthenware commonly designated
majolica. However, the glaze is much thinner than in typical
majolica and has a yellowish cast which is not characteristic
of majolica. Since majolica, by definition, has a glaze con-
taining tin oxide, it was decided to have a sample of the glaze
analyzed chemically for tin content. Dr. Alfred Armstrong,
professor of chemistry at the College of William and Mary,
very kindly offered to make the desired chemical tests.
A sample of the questionable glaze was removed from sherds
found at Jamestown and another sample of glaze from James-
town delft (known to contain tin) was also collected as a
control. Dr. Armstrong completed tests on both samples with
the following results:
Sample 1 (suspected majolica) Sample 2 (delft)
Strong positive chemical indi- Strong positive chemical in-
cation of lead dication of lead
No trace whatsoever of tin Strong positive chemical in-
dication of tin
Dr. Armstrong noted that the volume of Sample 1 appeared
to be about two-thirds that of Sample 2. The reaction indicated
the presence of lead, Sample 1 being approximately two-thirds
as strong as Sample 2. This suggested that both samples were
of similar lead glazes. The presence of tin in significant
quantity in Sample 2 (the delft) indicates that sufficient oxide
of tin was added to the lead glaze to render it a deep, opaque
white. The absence of tin in the glaze of Sample 1 indicates
that tin oxide was not added to the lead glaze of the bottles
in question, unless the quantity added was so slight that the
chemical test for tin showed no visible positive reaction.
Further chemical tests would be necessary to provide enough
statistical weight to allow a more conclusive statement.
SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY POTTERY TYPES
FOUND AT JAMESTOWN
I. EARTHENWARE:
1. Plain earthenware with no glaze and little or no
decoration:
205
a. Indian
( 1 ) Smooth
(2) Fabric impressed
(3) Cord marked
(4) Incised
b. English — red body or salmon body ware
c. Virginia — red body ware — probably made at James-
town or Green Spring
2. Lead-glazed earthenware (some vessels only partially
glazed) :
a. Jamestown
(1) Type I
(2) Type II
(3) Red body slipware
b. Green Spring
c. Virginia redware
d. English
(1) Type I, hard -fired
(2) Type II, hard-fired
(3) Glazed with dark-colored manganese glaze
(4) Glazed with clear glaze or light-colored glaze;
body red, brown, or buff.
(5) North Devon gravel ware or grit-tempered
ware
(6) North Devon "sgraffito" ware
(7) Slipware:
(a) Redware with marbled slip decoration
(b) Applied slip decoration
(c) Combed slipware
3. Tin-glazed earthenware:
a. English delftware
(1) Southwark (painted in blue and purple)
(2) London
(3) Lambeth
(4) Bristol
(5) Wincanton
(6) Liverpool
b. Dutch delftware
c. Flanders delftware
d. French faience
e. Hispanic majolica
f. Lisbon majolica
g. Italian majolica (a "sgraffito" type ware)
h. Mexican majolica, Puebla (?)
i. West Indies majolica (?)
II. SALT-GLAZED STONEWARE
1. German and Flanders
2. English
III. PORCELAIN
1 . Chinese
2. Japanese
3. Korean
DELFT AND MAJOLICA WITH
ORIENTAL INFLUENCE
WARE:
PASTE:
Method of
manufacture
Temper
Texture
Hardness
Color
SURFACE FINISH:
DECORATION:
Earthenware.
Bodies of vessels are wheel made ; ap-
pendages hand modeled or molded;
tiles formed in molds.
None evident.
Homogeneous, fine-grained ; powders
when rubbed with finger.
Mostly in neighborhood of 2.0; softest
examples approach 1.0, while hardest
are near 3.0.
Ranges from creams and ivory into
pinks and very light reds; color is
consistently uniform throughout an
entire vessel.
Opaque enamel usually covers entire
vessel except for base; enamel grades
from white into bluish white, with
some specimens showing a very pale
pinkish tinge; thickness of enamel
averages between 0.2 and 0.4 mm.;
enamel is a mixture of tin oxide in
a lead glaze. The lip extremity and
the basal ridge upon which the vessel
rests are frequently unglazed, possibly
as a result of wear in many cases,
as those two areas are especially
exposed. A superficial veneer of
transparent glaze appears to be pres-
ent in most specimens.
Most specimens have imitation Oriental
designs featuring floral and geometric
patterns, with an occasional scenic
landscape painted in shades of blue.
Pictures of animals occur rarely.
Some specimens have scenes reminis-
cent of "blue plate china." Delft
tiles frequently depict childhood
games (top spinning, wrestling, leap-
frog, etc.) involving two or more
human figures, invariably done in
blue. Other tiles have hunting
scenes with dogs and horses, while
some depict men in contemporary
dress. Some smaller vessels are
painted over the entire exterior (ex-
cept for the basal area) with a
mottled purple, through which the
white background shows in speckles.
206
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9 in.
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6 1/2 in.
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73/4 in.
9 in.
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9 1/4 in.
7 1/2 in.
4 y4 in.
5 in.
3 1/2 in.
FIGURE 24— Delft Types
Delft types found in Structure 128 (ice pit) and other Area B Structures:
A and B — ■ Cylindrical jars (albarello) F — Teacup without handle
C — Plate with everted rim G — Delft "apothecary jar"
D — Shallow bowl H — Delft porringer
E— Delft plate I— Delft cup
FORM:
Rim
Lip
Occasionally there are combinations
of blue and purple designs on a
single vessel; and, rarely, there are
green and yellow decorations, either
singly or in combination with any
or all of the other colors.
Frequently unmodified; sometimes
everted or rolled outward. In some
of the jar forms the rim is thickened
on the exterior, in which case the
lip is flattened.
Usually rounded. Occasionally flat-
tened, especially in jar forms with
Body
exterior thickening of the rim. The
flattened lip of this form is frequently
slanted outward.
Occurs in many different shapes, the
most frequent of which, at James-
town, are:
Cylindrical jars (albarellos) . Sides
may be vertical or slightly concave.
There is a narrow constriction just
below the rim and a similar con-
striction just above the base. The
rim is thickened on the exterior in
this form and the lip is flattened,
usually with an outward slant. Glaze
207
Base
is absent at the lip and the base
exterior, as a rule, perhaps due to
excessive wear in some cases. Dec-
orations consist entirely of small geo-
metric elements of oriental motif.
Plates with everted rims. This type
usually has a narrow, circular ridge
or basal foot (upon which the vessel
rests) at periphery of base. Decora-
tions are almost entirely in blue and
consist largely of Oriental floral and
scenic designs.
Bowls with vertical or evenly
curved, bulging sides, a few with
rims rolled outward. Usually a nar-
row ridge is at the periphery of the
base, and the lip is rounded. Some
of these have 1 or 2 flat, horizontal
tabs (usually containing holes in a
decorative pattern) by which the
bowls can be picked up. Deep bowls
with one such tab are called "bleed-
ing bowls"; bowls with two opposing
tabs are known as "porringers." The
delft bowls commonly are either plain
or decorated with geometric and/or
floral designs, usually in blue.
Cups or beakers with one handle.
Such forms may have either vertical
or bulging sides. Vessel walls are
relatively thin and decoration com-
monly consists of purple mottling
over the entire exterior of the cup
except for the base.
A solid purple band, perhaps one-
fourth inch wide, generally encircles
the cup at the lip and there is usually
a similar purple band just above the
base.
(Various other forms of delft are
known from European collections,
ranging from tiny, plain ointment
jars to large teapots, square covered
boxes, and other elaborate and com-
plex forms. While some of these
are present at Jamestown in small
quantity, time and space limitations
do not allow their further consider-
ation here. The major forms de-
scribed above account for the large
majority of Jamestown delft.)
Circular, with flat exterior. Interior is
flat except in bowls and cups with
very small bases, in which cases the
OTHER FORMS:
interior of the base may be concave.
There is a narrow ridge or basal foot
around the perimeter of the base on
several forms, especially plates, cups,
and small bowls. Rarely, small bowls
may have convex bases continuous
with the side walls.
Teacups without handles. Several tea-
cups in the Chinese tradition have
been found, with walls tapering in-
ward from the rim to the basal foot.
Most are plain white, but at least
one specimen is decorated with blue
floral and geometric designs.
Fireplace and wall building tiles.
These measure 5l/8 inches square on
the top face and % of an inch thick.
They are slightly beveled at the edges
so that the bottom face measures
about 4% inches square.
TRADITIONAL MAJOLICA
The traditional majolica (without direct oriental influence)
occurs at Jamestown in only one common variety, a bottle with
the following characteristics:
WARE:
PASTE:
Method of
manufacture
Temper
Texture
Hardness
Color
SURFACE FINISH:
Earthenware.
Evidently thrown on wheel, then flat-
tened slightly by compression on op-
posite sides.
None evident.
Homogeneous, fine-grained ; powders
when rubbed with finger.
Mostly between 2.0 and 3.0, with maxi-
mum range from about 1.5 to 3.0
(appears to run a little harder than
the imitation porcelain delft and
majolica).
Varies from creams to pinks.
The exterior surface of the clay is
smoothed and usually shows minute,
closely spaced, horizontal striations
left by the potter's fingers in throw-
ing. Frequently there are spots on
the exterior of the vessel where the
paste is slightly peaked or swirled as
though the vessel was handled con-
siderably while it was still plastic.
(Perhaps this resulted from handling
208
DECORATION:
FORM:
Rim
Lip
Trunk
Base
during the process of flattening the
sides.)
The bottom of the base character-
istically has a series of swirled, lightly
incised lines centered near one edge.
This pattern resulted from cutting
the vessel from the wheel with a wire
or cord. The upper one-third of the
vessel's trunk is usually covered in a
haphazard manner with a thin,
cream-colored lead glaze. Frequently
there are drip marks down the sides.
The lower portion of the vessel —
generally from about the point of
maximum width downward — is un-
glazed. The interior walls show
prominent, closely spaced, parallel
ridges running horizontally.
Approximately one-half of the speci-
mens have a star-shaped design
painted on the shoulder in red or
reddish brown, just above the two
opposing flattened sides of the trunk,
and sometimes overlapping onto the
flattened areas. The star has eight
arms of approximately equal length
radiating from a common center.
The rim consists of a narrow bottle
neck yg to 1 inch wide and between
2 and 3 inches high.
Flattened and inclined outward slightly.
(Only one specimen available for
examination.)
Expands upward from base to a point
about four-fifths of the distance be-
tween base and bottom of neck, at
which point it constricts abruptly to
form a rounded shoulder. After
having been thrown to shape on the
wheel and cut free, two opposing
sides of the trunk were flattened,
probably by pressing against a flat
surface. Two handles were then
applied, the lower ends attached at
the shoulder on the unflattened sides
of the trunk and the upper ends
fastened to the neck a short distance
below the lip. The handles extend
upward from their attachment at the
neck to form a tight loop about
level with the lip.
Round and flat.
TIN-ENAMELED EARTHENWARE
Tin-enameled earthenware of the varieties commonly known
as delft, majolica, or faience is one of the most numerous
classes of ceramics found at Jamestown. The technique of tin
enameling (mixing tin oxide with a lead glaze to make it
white and opaque) was introduced into the Western Mediter-
ranean countries of Europe from the Near East. By the end
of the 15th century, tin-enameled products made in Spain were
being called majolica ware. Majolica reached a high stage of
development in Italy and Spain during the 16th century. The
forms and decorations at that period were reflecting a com-
bination of Western European and Near Eastern traditions.
When the European demand for porcelain reached a high
level in the 16th and 17th centuries, the technique of tin
enameling which had given majolica its opaque, white glaze
was adapted to imitations of Oriental porcelain. That is,
majolica-type paste and glaze were combined with Oriental
forms and decorations to create an imitation of porcelain,
known as faience when made in France, majolica when made
in Italy, and delft when made in the Netherlands or England.
Similiar imitations of porcelain were also made in Spain and
even in the Spanish colonies of America, but these continued
to be called majolica.
For purposes of classification it would appear desirable to
divide the varieties of European tin-enameled earthenware into
two main groups: (1) the traditional majolica group com-
bining the Western European and Near Eastern traditions, and
(2) the delft-faience-majolica group which adapted the majolica
paste and glaze to Oriental porcelain forms and decorations.
This basic division of the tin-enameled earthenwares is sound,
but is complicated by the loose manner in which the termi-
nology has been used in ceramic classification.
Majolica, for example, commonly refers not only to the
tin-enameled earthenwares of Italy and Spain in the 15th and
16th centuries (and to the continuation of the same styles into
modern times), but also to Spanish varieties of the 16th, 17th,
and 18th centuries. These Spanish varieties represented a con-
scious effort to duplicate porcelain. They were made in
Chinese, Korean, and Japanese forms and decorated with
designs borrowed directly from Oriental porcelains. Similar
imitations of porcelain made in Italy, France, Holland, and
England are known as faience or delft depending on where
they were made. Typologically, however, they are more closely
related to many of the majolica varieties than those same
majolica varieties are to the original majolica of Western
European-Near Eastern origin. Furthermore, some ceramists
apply the term faience to all European glazed earthenwares,
and occasionally a ceramist may speak of all European tin-
enameled earthenware as either majolica or faience.
Despite confused terminology, however, it appears to the
writer that the two classifications are typologically valid — the
traditional majolica earthenware of Near Eastern-Western
European affinity on the one hand, and the various tin-
209
PLATE 92 — Representative White Clay Pipes from Jamestown
These types are not, of course, always consistent, and the ranges shown are the best presently available estimates, borne out at Jamestown by other
artifact associations.
enameled earthenwares made in direct imitation of Oriental
porcelain on the other.
CLAY PIPES: TYPES AS TIME MARKERS
In the review of structures and other features at Jamestown,
dating has been attempted on the basis of all artifacts which
could be dated with reasonable certainty. To test the efficacy
of types of white-clay tobacco pipes as time markers, it was de-
cided to make a series of measurements and record the results
on tables and a graph. Following are a listing of estimated
dates and a number of charts relevant to Harrington's proposed
association of stem hole diameters and dates (Harrington,
1954) and to Oswald's series of dated bowl shapes (Oswald,
1955).
Estimated Dates For Selected Features
(Based on Provenience and All Artifacts Recovered)
Refuse Pit 5: 1610-40
Refuse Pit
1:
Zone
A
1650-
-70
Zone
B
1620-
-50
Zone
C
1620-
-50
Ice Pit, Struct
ure 128:
Zone
A
1650-
-75
Zone
B
1640-
-75
Zone
C
1640-
-75
Zone
D
1625-
-60
Zone
E
1625-
-60
Zone
F
1625-
-60
Well 21:
16;
15-40
Well 20:
16;
10-50
Refuse Pit
2:
1700-
50 (some evidence 1750-1800)
Yorktown :
IS
ith Century
210
9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0
t o
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o ;
e 3
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■OIKX,
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•
AVERAGE BOWL CAPACITY
( in cubic centimeters)
AVERAGE STEM HOLE DIAMETER
(1.00 represents 1/64 inch)
J-AVERAGE BOWL HEIGHT
(in centimeters)
INTERIOR DEPTH OF BOWL
(In centimeters)
AVERAGE MOUTH DIAMETER
(in centimeters)
AVERAGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
MAX. BOWL DIAMETER and
AVG. BOWL DIAMETER at LIP
DIVIDED by BOWL HEIGHT
CORRELATIONS OF PIPE SHAPES
AT DATED FEATURES F,G ZB
FIGURE 25 — Correlations of Pipe Shapes at Dated Features
%
100
75
50
25
0
(0 <£
H
AVERAGE 8.6
REFUSE PIT I, ZONE A
%
100
75
50
25
0
AVERAGE 8.4
REFUSEPIT I, ZONE B
%
100
75
50
25
0
AVERAGE 8.6
REFUSE PIT I, ZONE C
%
100
75
50
25
0
REFUSE PIT 3
WHITE PIPE STEM HOLE DIAMETERS
FIGURE 26 — White Pipestem Hole Diameters
211
AVG. 5.5
REFUSE PIT 2
%
100
75
50
25
0
%
100
75
50
25
0
%
100
75
50
25
0
(0 (0 CO
> £ *
CO
AVG. 5.5
YORKTOWN (provenience unknown)
00 o>
HE
ICE PIT, STRUCTURE 128, ZONE A
t * * £
& s « &
iP t^ op <D
^
ICE PIT, STRUCTURE 128, ZONE B
WHITE PIPE STEM HOLE DIAMETERS
FIGURE 27— White Pipestem Hole Diameters
%
100
75
50
25
0
CO ID
H
ICE PIT, STRUCTURE 128, ZONE C
%
100
75
50
25
0
%
100
75
50
25
0
^ CO 0>
so co
ICE PIT, STRUCTURE 128, ZONE D
AVG. 8.5
%
100
75
50
25
AVG. 8.5
0
ICE PIT, STRUCTURE 128, ZONE E
CO CO
o
AVG. 8.3
AVG. 8.4
AVG. 8.7
AVG. 8.9
ICE PIT, STRUCTURE 128, ZONE F
WHITE PIPE STEM HOLE DIAMETERS
FIGURE 28 — White Pipestem Hole Diameters
212
APPENDIX B
Notes on an Indian Cranium
From Jamestown, Virginia
BY GEORG K. NEUMANN
The cranium of the Indian skeleton discovered in the ex-
cavation of the historic site at Jamestown, Virginia, merits a
detailed morphological and metrical description. This descrip-
tion is needed because there is a relative scarcity of skeletal
material that can be attributed to the Algonquian tribes of
Tidewater Virginia. These notes, therefore, are written so
that the gradual accretion of information may shed light on
the racial relationships of the little known tribes of the Atlantic
seaboard.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CRANIUM
The skull is in a good state of preservation, buff in color,
and undeformed except for a slight posthumous downward
displacement of the right condylar region of the occipital bone.
This slight change affects only the height measurement of the
vault, and can easily be corrected. The pathological changes
of the frontal bone, possibly of syphilitic origin, are not ex-
tensive enough to affect any of the observations or measure-
ments.
The cranium apparently represents a male somewhere be-
tween 26 and 29 years of age. Medium development of
muscular insertions, such as supramastoid crests, pterygoid
attachments, and mylohyoid ridge, blunt upper orbital margins,
medium-size supraorbital ridges and mastoid processes, slightly
more than average weight, and general size indicate the sex.
Advanced endocranial occlusion of the sagittal suture, and cor-
responding dental attrition indicate the age.
The brain-case
In general size the brain-case is above average for American
Indians. This is reflected by a cranial module of 156.3, an
horizontal circumference of 534 mm. (530 over ophryon), a
nasionopisthion arc of 377 mm., and a transverse arc (over
apex) of 316 mm. (313 over bregma). The thickness of the
bones of the vault is average — 5 mm. for mean thickness of
the left parietal. The serration of the sutures is submedium
throughout, unless that of the coronal be regarded as simple.
Traces of a transverse suture of the occipital and metopism
are lacking; there are eight Wormian bones in the lambdoid
suture.
When viewed from above the brain-case is ellipsoid in form
although not quite as full in the frontal region as in some
Europeans. The ellipse is rather long in accordance with a
glabello-occipital length of 193 and a maximum width of 133
mm., and a cranial index of 68.91 (hyperdolichocrany) . As
may be expected in a vault of this form the postorbital con-
striction, the sphenoid depression, and the lateral bulge of the
temporal squama are small, and the development of the parietal
eminences is medium at the most. The maximum frontal
diameter is 95 mm. and the fronto-parietal index 71.43, indi-
cating medium absolute and high relative breadth of the frontal
bone. There is no indication of cresting of the frontal and
the bosses are small; the occipital is medium wide with pro-
nounced curvature. Both the supraorbital ridges, which are of
the divided type, and the glabellar region are medium in
development.
From the side the vault is seen to be relatively high. The
basion-bregma height is 143 mm., auricular height 118 mm.,
the breadth-height index 107.52, and the mean height index
87.73. A good part of this height is made up by that portion
of the vault which is below porion on the ear-eye plane. This
is indicated by the length-height index which is only 74.09, a
length-auricular height index of 61.14, both orthocranial, a
basion-projected porion height of 24 mm., and an index of
flatness of the cranial base of 16.78 (Neumann, 1942). The
frontal bone is high and exhibits only a slight slope; a post-
coronal depression and sagittal cresting of the parietals are
lacking ; lambdoid flattening is small ; the occipital bone is
set about medium high, the external occipital protuberance is
small, and an occipital torus is lacking. The pteryon region
is in "H" on both sides.
213
It was pointed out above that the base of the skull is not
flat or depressed. The foramen magnum with a length of
39 mm., a breadth of 28 mm., and an index of 71.79 is ellipti-
cal in form, and without an anomalous emargination of its
posterior border. The cranial base line (nasion-basion) with
a length of 114 mm., is long; the styloid processes are small,
the glenoid fossae moderate in depth with a moderately long
postglenoid process; the tympanic plate is thin, without de-
hiscense, and forms an elliptical-shaped external auditory
meatus; condyle elevation is medium, and the position of the
basion region about level with the occipital surfaces laterally
to the condyles ; a median occipital fossa and a pharyngeal fossa
are lacking, and the pharyngeal tubercle, the lacerate foramina,
and the petrous depression are all about medium.
TABLE V. — Measurements of the Brain Case
Notation
Measurement
mm.
CM
TP
L
B
MF
H
PAH
BPH
LB
HCG
HCO
SA
TAA
TAB
Vault
Cranial module (L+B+H/3)
156.3
5
193
133
95
143
118
24
114
534
530
377
316
313
Glabello-occipital length
Basion-bregma height
Porion-apex height (po-a)
Basion-projected porion height
Length of cranial base (n-ba)
Arcs
Horizontal circumference (g)
Horizontal circumference (on)
Sagittal arc
Transverse arc over apex
Transverse arch over bregma
The face
In general dimensions the face appears moderately large
for the American Indian. The total facial height (nasion-
gnathion) of 134 mm., the upper facial height (nasion-
alveolar point) of about 77 mm., as well as the height of the
mandibular symphysis of 45 mm. are, however, extreme. These
dimensions in relation to a rather moderate bizygomatic diam-
eter of 133 mm., a midfacial breadth of 103 mm., and a
bigonial diameter of 97 mm., yield indices which reflect the
pronounced height and narrowness of the face. The total
facial index is 100.75 (hyperleptoprosopic), the superior facial
index 57.89 (leptene), the midfacial index 74.76, the zygo-
frontal index 71.43, the zygo-gonial index 72.93, and the
fronto-gonial 102.11. The harmonious relation between the
facial and the vault breadth is indicated by the cranio-facial
index of 100.00.
The orbital and nasal proportions, on the other hand, are
rather moderate. In shape the two orbits differ in that the
right is square with a slight declination and the left rhomboid
with a large declination of its horizontal axis. The left orbital
height is 34.2 mm., the left orbital breadth from maxillo-
frontale 43.8 mm. (38 mm. from dacryon) ; yielding an orbital
index of 78.08 (mesoconch ; or 90.00, hypsiconch if the dacryal
breadth is employed). The lacrymo-ethmoid articulation is
medium high, the suborbital fossae are medium deep, and the
infraorbital sutures are lacking on both sides. The small
zygomatic bones exhibit both small lateral as well as anterior
projection, a combination that produces anything but a flat face.
This lack of flatness finds expression in the index of facial
TABLE VI. — Measurements of the Face
Notation
TFB . . .
MFB . . .
TFH . . .
UFH . . .
IOB
SIOB . . .
BOB . . .
AIB
NH
NB
DC
DS . . . .
MN ....
SMN . . .
BNB . . .
HNB . . .
LOBM . .
LOH . . .
LOBD . .
ML
MB
FL
FLA . . .
LM ....
BC
SH
BA ....
RL
Notation
FPL ....
MPL . . .
APL . . .
NL
AL
BL
GL
Measurement
Face
Total facial breadth (zy-zy)
Mid-facial breadth (zm-zm)
Total facial height (n-gn)
Upper facial height (n-alv. pt.)
Interior orbital breadth (fmo-fmo)
Subtense interior orbital breadth (over n)
Biorbital breadth (ec-ec)
Anterior interorbital breadth (mf-mf) . . .
Nose
Nasal height (n-ns)
Nasal breadth (na-na)
Dacryal chord (d-d)
Dacryal subtense
Minimum breadth of nasals (SC)
Subtense min. breadth of nasals (SS)
Breadth of nasal bridge (MOW)
Height of nasal bridge (SMOW)
Orbit
Left orbital breadth from maxillofrontale.
Left orbital height
Left orbital breadth from dacryon
Alveolar arch
Maxillo-alveolar length
Maxillo-alveolar breadth
Facial length (ba-pr)
Facial length (ba-alva. pt. )
Mandible
Length of mandible
Bicondylar breadth
Height of mandibular symphysis
Biangular breadth
Minimum ramus length
Measurement
Angles
Facial profile angle
Midfacial profile angle
Alveolar profile angle
Nasion angle
Alveolar point angle
Basion angle
Gonial angle
214
flatness, which in this case amounts to 20.39 (computed from
the interior orbital breadth of 103 mm., and a subtense to this
line from an arc over nasion of 21 mm.), a high value (Woo
and Morant, 1934). Two additional morphological observa-
tions that should be mentioned here are the absence of the
marginal process of the zygomatic bone, and the moderate
height of the zygomatic process of the temporal bone. If the
anterior inter-orbital breadth (26.0 mm.) is expressed in terms
of the biorbital breadth (103 mm.), we get a high inter-
orbital index (25.24) for this skull.
The nasal skeleton is moderate in saliency; a slight nasion
depression is accompanied by a high but at the same time
relatively broad nasal root, medium bridge height and breadth.
The nasal bones proper are of medium size, and slight concavo-
convex in profile. Metrically the conformation of the nasal
root region is expressed by the length of the dacryal chord of
30.7 mm., the dacryal subtense of 16 mm., the subtense being
52.12 percent of the chord (nasal root index). Similarly the
minimum breadth of the nasals is 4.1 mm., and the subtense to
an arc in this region 7.1 mm., values that give a Simotic index
of 57.75. The absolute dimensions of the nasal structure are
TABLE VII.— Indices
Notation
100 B/L
100 H/L
100 H/B
100 H/(L+B/2)
100 PAH/L . . .
100 BPH/H . . .
100 MF/B
100 TFH/TFB
100 UFH/TFB
100 UFH/MFB
100 TFB/B . . .
100 MF/TFB .
100 SIOB/IOB
100 AIB/BOB .
100 NB/NH . .
100 DS/DC . . .
100 SMN/MN
100 HNB/BNB
100 LOH/LOBM.
100 LOH/LOBD .
100 MB/ML
100 BA/MF
100 BA/TFB
100 LM/BC
Index
Vault
Cranial index
Length-height index
Breadth-height index
Mean height index
Length-auricular height index .
Index of flatness of cranial base
Transverse fronto-parietal index
Face
Total facial index
Upper facial index
Mid-facial index
Transverse cranio-facial index .
Zygomatico-frontal index
Index of facial flatness
Anterior interorbital index ....
Nose
Nasal index
Nasal root index
Nasal bone height index
Nasal bridge height index ....
Orbit
Orbital index (maxillofrontale)
Orbital index (dacryon)
Alveolar arch
Maxillo-alveolar index
Mandible
Fronto-mandibular index
Zygomatico-mandibular index .
Mandibular index
Units
68.91
74.09
107.52
87.73
61.14
16.78
71.43
100.75
57.89
74.76
100.00
71.43
20.39
25.24
50.97
52.12
57.75
78.08
90.00
118.46
102.11
72.93
100.83
of moderate proportions with a height of 51.8 mm., a breadth
of 26.4 mm., and a nasal index of 50.97 (mesorrhine) . The
anterior nasal spine is small and the lower margins of the
piriform aperture are medium in sharpness.
In general the facial profile can be characterized as mesog-
nathous with a facial profile angle of 81°. Its components,
however, represent the extremes of orthognathy (midfacial
angle of 88°) and prognathy (alveolar angle of 66°). Facial
length (basion-prosthion) amounts to about 114 mm. The
three linear measurements of the nasion-basion-alveolar point
triangle, and its three angles express the amount of total facial
prognathism in a different way. Individual values are given
in Table VI.
The high palate is elliptical in form, 65 mm. long and
77 mm. wide, that is, short in relation to its breadth (maxillo-
alveolar index of 118.46, brachyuranic) . The transverse pala-
tine suture is directed straight across the midline, and though
there is a slight thickening on each side of the intermaxillary
suture, a palatine torus proper is lacking. The external ptery-
goid plates are medium long and the internal ones small;
pterygobasal foramina are absent; the posterior nasal spine is
large.
The mandible is relatively large and high, the chin form
intermediate between median and bilateral, and strongly nega-
tive in development when the skull is oriented in the ear-eye
plan. With pronounced maxillary prognathism a correspond-
ing condition is to be found in the mandible. Muscle mark-
ings, as was mentioned above, are medium, the genial tubercles
and gonial eversion small. The mandibular index is 100.83,
the minimum breadth of the ascending ramus 38 mm. (wide),
and the left gonial angle 131° (large).
Teeth eruption is complete, attrition slight, crowding absent.
One tooth was lost before death and four show caries; there
are three medium-sized abcesses, and indications of alveolar
destruction. The cusp pattern is 4—4-3 in the upper and
5-?-4 in the lower molars. There is a slight over-bite, and the
incisors are shovel-shaped (medium development).
TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS
The introductory statement pointed out that there is a paucity
of published craniological data dealing with series attributable
to people of the Powhatan Confederacy and neighboring tribes.
In fact, the only material on the former group is Stewart's
preliminary data from ossuaries on the sites of Nacotchtanke
(Anacostia) and Piscataway Fort, located on tributaries of the
Potomac, and from an ossuary near Belleview on the York
River. These three series comprise 75 crania of adults, but
only cranial indices are presented for a statement dealing with
the range of the mean height index of the 8 crania from the
York River site. In the report on the series from Piscataway
Fort these indices are given only by frequency in 6 index
classes; from the other 2 sites the individual indices appear,
but the sexes have not been separated.
215
The mean cranial index of the skulls from Nacotchtanke,
male and female combined, is 76.24 (11), the range is 72.6
to 86.0; and from the York River ossuary 74.86 (8), and 70.7
to 81.8. If the individual indices of the two series are pooled
the mean is 75.76 (19). For the series of 56 crania (32 male,
and 24 female) from Piscataway Fort only the range (65.8-
90.9, for the combined sexes) and the class distribution are
given. The latter is presented in Table VIII, in which the
first column gives the frequencies for males, the second for
females, the third for the combined sexes of this series, and
the fourth the same for the pooled Nacotchtanke-York River
series.
TABLE VIII. — Class Frequencies of Cranial Indices — Piscataway Fort
and Nacotcbtanke-York River
Nac-York
Both
Hyperdolichocrany ....65.0-69.9
Dolichocrany 70.0-74.9
Mesocrany 75.0-79.9
Brachycrany 80.0-84.9
Hyperbrachycrany 85.0-89.9
Ultrabrachycrany 90.0-94.9
Male
Female
Both
6
2
8
10
7
17
9
7
16
7
7
14
—
1
1
From the above data it appears that we are dealing in these
3 sites with one physical type whose mean cranial index is
around 75. Stewart states, on the basis of a large number of
traits, that "the affiliation of this group seems to be with the
northeastern dolichocephals." My inspection of some of this
material bears out his conclusion. Although the hyperdolicho-
crany of the Jamestown skull places its cranial index six units
below the mean for this type, it still falls within the range of
a series such as that from Piscataway Fort, and probably has to
be considered as an individual extreme in this respect.
The mean height index of 87.73 of the Jamestown skull
places it among the highest means for American Indian skulls,
and within the range of 83.9-88.5 which Stewart gives for
the York River series of eight skulls.
Going a little further afield and comparing the skull with
the Nanticoke series described by Cope it appears that its
measurements will fall within the range of this series of which
only a few indices are given. Unfortunately the indices of only
two crania are represented for most of these, making close
comparisons almost impossible. It must therefore suffice to
state that the mean cranial index of 75.12 (9), the mean length-
height index of 74.59 (3), and the mean index of 52.2 (2)
for male Nanticoke crania compare favorably with the corres-
ponding indices of the Jamestown skull.
This same physical type — Hrdlicka's "Algonkin" type, or
my Lenid type — has a wide distribution in the East and in-
cludes groups of at least three linguistic stocks: Algonquian,
Iroquoian, and Siouan. Crania from the historic Siouan towns
of Tutelo (ca. 1670) and Keyauwee (ca. 1700) yield exactly
the same physical type as the crania from the Hayes' Creek
Mound in Rockbridge County, Virginia. Since this site is in
addition located in the piedmont region which was occupied
by tribes of the Monacan Confederacy, and the pottery is
identical with that found on sites known to have been Siouan,
it is reasonably safe to use the measurements of the crania of
this series (Hrdlicka, 1927) as representative of the Siouan-
speaking tribes of Virginia. In Table IX some of the measure-
ments and indices of the Jamestown skull are compared with
this putative Siouan and a prehistoric Seneca series.
From this table it may be seen that, except for the somewhat
extreme individual cranial and facial length and breadth of the
Jamestown skull, most of the measurements and indices cor-
respond fairly closely to the means of the Hayes' Creek Mound
and a prehistoric Seneca series.
Finally, it may be pointed out that many of the photographs
of living Indians of the Powhatan tribes given by Speck
(Speck, 1928) represent individuals with cranial and facial
proportions which approximate those of the Jamestown cranium.
The best example is perhaps that of the Mattaponi type given
in Figure 16a of Speck's study. It is interesting to note in
this respect that this applies especially to those individuals that
seem to have the least amount of white admixture.
216
TABLE IX. — Comparison with Monacan and Seneca Crania
CM
L
B
H
TFB
TFH
UFH
NH
NB
LOH
LOBD
100 B/L
100 H/L
100 H/B
100 H/(L+B/2)
100 UFH/TFB
100 TFB/B . . .
100 NB/NH . .
100 LOH/LOBD
Jamestown
156.30
193.00
133.00
143.00
133.00
134.00
(77)
51.80
26.40
34.20
38.00
68.91
74.09
107.52
87.73
57.89
100.00
50.97
90.00
Hayes' Creek
Hayes'
Creek
Prehistoric
Moun
d
Mo
und
Seneca
Male Means
Male
Range
Wray Collection
154.05 (
12)
146.6 -
-160.3
155.37 1
11)
182.10
15)
173 -
-190
186.91 (
11)
137.60 I
15)
128 -
-146
137.45 (
11)
143.10 I
12)
138 -
-150
141.73 <
11)
138.20 I
5)
126 -
-151
136.78
9)
125 00 (
1)
4)
125.00 <
6)
10)
73.00 (
72 ■
- 74
76.10 I
52.70 I
8)
51 -
- 56
54.89 1
10)
27.20 1
7)
25 -
- 29
27.87 I
10)
1 33.40
'10)
31 •
- 36
33.88 I
10)
1 38.00
10)
36 ■
- 40.5
2 38.88
(10)
75.57
:i5)
71.2 ■
- 80.7
73.56 (
11)
79.01
;i2)
75.13
- 81.32
75.83
[11)
103.80
(12)
97.89
-109.38
103.20
11)
89.39
;i2)
84.8
- 92.1
87.39
[11)
55.95
(2)
54.9
- 57.0
55.60
[9)
100.34
15)
96.67
-104.14
100.04
,9)
51.41
(7)
49.0
- 53.8
50.87
10)
88.01
(10)
84.2
- 92.3
3 87.18
10)
1 Mean.
2 Computed by making a correction from the measurement from maxillofrontale.
3 Computed from the means of height and breadth.
217
APPENDIX C
Extracts From the APVA Yearbook
1900-1901
NOTE : The following extracts from APVA records relevant to excavations on the site of the
brick church foundations and cemetery east of the brick lower are offered to provide the
original data from which Colonel Yonge and the present writer drew conclusions. The
exact number and location of graves disturbed in quest of genealogical information were not
recorded. All historical references are subject to scrutiny before modern acceptance. The
writer is indebted to the Jamestown Committee of the APVA and to Mr. William H. Smith
for permission to reproduce these extracts and the photograph of the church excavation.
I. Letter to Chairman, Jamestown Committee APVA
Richmond, Va., ]une 8, 1901.
Mrs. Parke C. Bagby, Chairman,
Jamestown Committee APVA
Dear Madam: I beg leave to make the following report of
recent work at Jamestown:
In 1893, when visiting Jamestown Island, I was impressed
with the peculiar topography of the land back of the old tower.
Feeling sure that there was something buried there, I was very
anxious to excavate upon that site, in order to unearth anything
that lay hidden. Not, however, until the 25th of May, 1901,
was I able to do anything towards discovering what remained
of the church, which was there buried in its own debris.
Upon the day named, at the kind invitation of the James-
town Committee of the APVA, I started excavating, and with
the indefatigable aid of the local committee— the Misses Gait
and Garrett of Williamsburg, Va. — I have found that there
remains of the original church all four walls, to a height of
from 6 inches to 3 feet above their foundations. Starting with
excavations at the southwest corner, I carried the work along
the south wall, keeping down to the top of the foundation, or
beginning of the neat work. At 3 feet 4 inches west of the
southwest corner, I struck the east side of a buttress, extending
3 feet 1 inch north and south, by 2 feet 8 inches east and west.
At 8.45 feet from this was discovered the east side of a tile
pavement in front of the minister's door, which entered through
the south wall, into an aisle crossing the church in front of
the chancel. Immediately upon entering this door was found
a tomb, lying north and south along the aisle. This tomb had
been robbed of the brass tablets with which it had been inlaid.
The stone, however, bears the channels in which the brass was,
as well as the brass bolts, leaded in the stone. These bolts
held the tablets, consisting of a rectangular border 2 inches
wide, enclosing in the northeast corner of the stone a shield,
and in the northwest a scroll, and down the middle of the
tomb a knight in armor standing upon a rectangular plate
which evidently bore the inscription.
At right angles to the first tomb, and lying against its north
side, was found another, bearing the following inscription:
"Here lyeth interred the body of John Clough, minister, who
departed this life the 11th day of January, 16 — ."
To the right as one enters the minister's door, and about a
foot from the east side of the door, is a step down into the
chancel. The chancel is paved with 9 inch square tiles, while
both the middle and cross aisles are paved with brick.
In the northeast corner of the church and in the chancel
was found a tomb covered with raised tiles; and when entered,
it was found to contain the remains of a young man of great
size, his skeleton as he lay being 5.6 feet long and 1.5 across
the shoulders.
Lying near the north wall, and across the cross aisle, was
found another tomb containing the remains of a man whose
feet were about one foot from the head of the man in the
northeast corner. While excavating at the second grave, along
the north wall, was found part of the remains of a brass tablet,
which evidently was attached to the north wall and was de-
stroyed when the church burned and the wall fell. Letters
were found upon the fragments of brass.
In the southwest corner of the church the sexton's tools —
spades, picks, etc., — were found and were evidently burned
219
when the church was destroyed as the charred remains of the
helve were still in the pick.
The walls of the chancel were all 2 feet thick with 4 inch
offsets inside and out at the foundation. There are eight
buttresses, four on the north and four on the south side of the
church. These buttresses are 3 feet, 1 inch north and south,
by 2 feet, 8 inches east and west and are situated from the
southeast corner, along the south wall, as the distance to the
east side of buttress being given in each case: Southeast corner
to first buttress, 3 feet 4 inches; to second, 21 feet; to third,
39 feet, and to fourth, 52 feet. The west wall of the church
is 11 inches east of the old tower, which is connected with
the church by two transverse walls running 5 feet 2 inches
apart and on either side of the eastern arch of the tower. The
connecting walls between tower and church are 3 feet thick
and run from the church under the tower, evidently showing
the tower to have been built after the completion of the
church.
The old graveyard wall, 18 inches thick, which was built
through the old church, crosses 16.8 feet from southeast corner
and 13.1 from northeast corner.
Six inches from and parallel to the south wall of the church
was found a 9 inch wall, evidently the foundation of some
wooden structure, upon the site of which the old brick church
was built. I found evidence along the middle aisle of graves
and think both aisles were entirely undermined by them.
Respectfully.
John Tyler, Jr.
II. Report on 1901-1902 Excavations
REPORT OF THE EXCAVATIONS MADE AT
JAMESTOWN IN 1901 AND 1902
(Prepared at the request of Mrs. John B. Lightfoot
for the Jamestown Book.)
As Acting Chairman of the Committee, Mrs. Lightfoot re-
quests me to give further account of the work committed to our
care, and my deductions as to its importance — 1901.
Subcommittee Chairman,
Miss Mary J. Gait
Miss Mary W. Garrett
When the Committee began their excavations at Jamestown
there was no one present except Miss Gait, myself and one
laborer. We uncovered the top of two buttresses, and a por-
tion of the top of the foundation of what turned out to be
the brick Church of 1638. We realized that the work was too
important to be carried forward without skilled workmen. I
suggested that we ask Mr. John Tyler, Jr., then employed by
the United States government, on the breakwater, at Jamestown,
to come and help us with this great work of excavation. We
also called in the skilled aid of Mr. William Leal, the present
custodian at Jamestown. Mr. Tyler was to leave Jamestown
the next morning, but we telegraphed Mrs. Parke C. Bagby,
Chairman of the Jamestown Committee, who secured his valu-
able services, free to the association.
Mr. Tyler has given the association a report of the discoveries
we then made which will be found on the 34th page of the
1900 Year Book of the association. He reports the excavation
of the foundation of the brick church of 1638 with its buttresses.
He also mentions a cobblestone foundation.
1902
Subcommittee
Acting Chairman, Miss Mary W.
Garrett
Miss Annie Gait
Miss Mary J. Gait having changed her place of residence,
Mrs. Parke C. Bagby appointed me acting chairman of the
subcommittee consisting of Miss Annie Gait and myself as
acting chairman of the Committee. I submit the following
report: With Mr. William Leal to carry on the work of excava-
ting at Jamestown, we began the work June, 1902 to try to
establish the further history of the old church. We com-
menced work in the chancel, discovered in 1901, removing the
9 inch square tiles and digging below the chancel we discovered
what we believed to be another chancel — the center portion was
all that had not been destroyed. We found a bed of mortar
stretching from the east wall of the Church of 1638 and ex-
tending into the body of the Church westward 4 feet beyond
the limits of the chancel of the Church of 1638. This chancel
was paved with 7 inch square tiles, 2 inches thick. There were
some of these tiles remaining, and impressions all across the
mortar showing that others had been removed. In the upper
chancel belonging to the Church of 1638 (we found ten bodies
buried in the lower chancel) we also found ten bodies, but the
lower chancel was narrower than the upper chancel — the dimen-
sions of the upper chancel being 22 feet, 6 inches — and that
of the lower 21 feet — the bodies in the lower chancel being
interred closer together than those in the chancel of the Church
of 1638. (Our measurements do not exactly agree with those
made by Mr. S. H. Yonge with accurate instruments.)
The inside measurements of the cobblestone foundation,
discovered in 1901, were 21 feet. We found the bodies, in-
terred in the lower chancel, occupied a corresponding space of
21 feet, so we believed this to be the chancel of the Church
of the cobblestone foundation. As a further proof of this, the
cobblestone foundation does not lie due east and west, varying
a little from the northwest to the southeast ; we found that the
bodies interred under the chancel did not lie due east and west
but followed the inclination of the cobblestone foundation,
220
varying in the same degree from the points of the compass.
The first body discovered in this lower chancel was about a
foot and a half beyond the limits of the chancel of the Church
of 1638, and a part of the body was lying under the foundation
of that church, proving the church of this lower chancel to
have been built prior to the Church of 1638 — this must have
been an extensive chancel because it extended 4 feet, 5 inches
beyond the limits of the upper chancel.
Which of the Jamestown churches could answer to the dimen-
sions of this cobblestone foundation? In width it measures
(inside measurements) 21 feet, following this cobblestone
foundation in length beginning at the west end of the founda-
tion that joins the tower; we can trace it by its cobblestones
and :ts chancel upward and prove its length for certainly 54
feet. This brings us to the east foundation wall of the Church
of 1638; a body interred in this chancel extended l1/^ feet
beyond the eastern limits of the Church of 1638, proving that
the church was certainly 55V2 ^eet 10ng- Th's could not have
been the measurements of the church of 1617, as that church
was 20 by 50.
Strachey writes a description of the Church found by Lord
Delaware, 1610, First Republic in America, Alexander Brown,
page 129, stating that when Lord De La Ware arrived in
1610, he found a "Pretty Chapel" 60 by 24, which he had put
in good repair. He describes a triangular fort 420 feet, facing
the river, and the other two sides 300 feet, and states that in
the center of this fort were chapel, market place, and the
"Corps du Garde" — . If this cobblestone foundation with its
extensive chancel was not the Church described by Strachey,
then it has never been described by any historian, for there is
no description answering to its dimensions if it is not the
Church built by Newport's sailors in 1608. We cannot prove
that the church of the cobblestone foundation extended 60 feet,
for after the building of the church of 1638 on the site, the
eastern foundation which would have extended beyond was
thrown in the church yard and may have been lost by inter-
ments; but there is strong proof that this foundation did
extend further eastward, from the fact that one of the bodies
interred in the chancel of the Church of the cobblestone founda-
tion extended beyond the limits of the chancel of the Church
of 1638 eastward. In digging to the southeast corner, we
found a small heap of cobblestones with the old shell lime
still adhering to them corresponding with those in the cobble-
stone foundation and seeming to prove that some of the stones
had been removed.
In 1901 Mr. Leal excavated in the northeast corner of the
chancel and found one grave ; he dug down to the clay and
found no grave beneath it; in 1902 he dug down in the south-
east corner of the chancel and found one grave with no grave
beneath it. The bodies in the last chancel discovered were all
in the space of 21 feet from north to south. We think that
ten bodies were in the upper chancel and ten in the lower
chancel because the interments covered the space of 22 feet
and were all found lying due east and west, while those ten
that were buried deeper were not due east and west but fol-
lowed the inclination of the cobblestone foundation and were
confined to a space of 21 feet. In our report of 1902 I find
that we did not make this fact plain concerning the grave in
the southeast corner of the chancel.
There is abundant proof that this church of the cobblestone
foundation was destroyed by fire — this is proved by excava-
tions in the chancel and under the brick pavement in the body
of the church, where we found heaps of blackened coals, bits
of charred wood, and other evidences of fire.
The Cradle of the Republic by Doctor Lyon G. Tyler has a
picture of Jamestown in 1620 showing a brick tower with port
holes with building attached, extending east, which could have
been no other building than the church of 1617. This church
must have appeared in this picture, and there is no other build-
ing here represented with brick tower and without a chimney;
and we know that the churches of those days were without
chimneys. It is also in the center of the town, and the old
church was represented as being in the center of the town.
This seems to establish that the tower was in existence as early
as 1617. This tower may have been built in 1608 as Strachey
mentioned Brown's First Republic in America, page 129, that
there were two bells in the steeple at the west end, in speaking
of the chapel. The tower may have been added by Lord
De La Ware or by Dale when he repaired the church and
other buildings in 1611, for he brought over with him skilled
artificers, carpenters, and brick layers.
Dale arrived at Jamestown Sunday, May 29, 1611; on the
30th he called a council and decided to repair the church and
other buildings, and to make bricks in the colony. It is not
unreasonable to suppose that the people of the colony who
made bricks at such an early date, that they who so honored
the Lord and paid such attention to His house of worship as
was the custom in those days, that our forefathers should have
erected a handsome tower of brick, making an impressive
entrance to their church, which would be used as a belfry and
also serve as a tower of defense for their congregation from
the dangers that surrounded them when they assembled to
worship.
In summing up the work of our committee for the year 1902,
we continued the excavations in the chancel and body of the
church as stated. We also excavated in the churchyard and
found a number of graves there, unidentified, to which the
association placed markers, then continued the excavations to
try to establish the extent of the churchyard. Through these
excavations conducted by Mr. William Leal we found remains
that proved that the churchyard on the south extended to the
river; on the north and the east we found nothing to justify
us in supposing that it extended further than the enclosure; to
the west, I am informed on good authority, that when the
Confederate Fort was thrown up numbers of skeletons were
found showing that the churchyard must have extended as far
as the fort to the west.
The restoration of all tombs in the churchyard was under
221
the direction of Miss Mary Gait as she requested that this work
should be discontinued until her return. Nothing has been
done in regard to the tombstone, except that I suggested to
Mrs. John B. Lightfoot that the inscriptions on the tombs of
commissary Blair and his wife, which I could furnish, should
be preserved; she has had this work beautifully done — it is the
skilled labor of Mr. William Leal.
From the excavations that we made, I think that I can claim
that we have discovered the Harrison section in the churchyard.
Mrs. Edwards, who was a Miss Harrison, was buried there;
Hannah Harrison, who married Philip Ludwell, is buried there;
and Sarah Harrison, who married Commissary Blair. In the
center of the section we found an unidentified grave containing
three bodies, and we found brass-headed tacks in this grave,
some of which were distintegrated, but a few were held in
place by the remains of the wood of the coffin. I placed these
letters together and made out the names of B. and A. Harrison.
I found afterwards by reference to Bishop Meade's book that
B. Harrison was buried there, and we think he was the immi-
grant and progenitor of the Harrison family in Virginia.
Respectfully submitted.
Mary Winder Garrett,
Acting Chairman, Subcommittee
of Jamestown Committee, APVA
December 15, 1905.
November 5, 1906.
Since writing the above report, Miss Loulie L. Taylor, Di-
rectress of the Norfolk Branch of the APVA and myself were
appointed to select the site for the monument to the first
House of Burgesses to be placed at Jamestown by the Norfolk
Branch of the Association. We chose a spot which has been
marked and approved by the Association ; and the Association
has granted permission for the monument to be erected on this
site.
In view of the coming tercentenary, I feel that grateful eyes
will be turned to Mrs. Parke C. Bagby, the official Chairman of
the Jamestown Committee, and Miss Mary J. Gait, Chairman
of the Subcommittee. These two ladies have labored faith-
fully at Jamestown since the Association was organized; and to
Mrs. John B. Lightfoot, whose untiring zeal and energy came
in at a moment when most needed to carry the work forward
in preparation for the tercentenary.
Mary Winder Garrett,
Acting Chairman of Subcommittee.
III. Mary Jeffery Gait Report
Report of Miss Mary Jeffery Gait
Originator of the APVA
This report is made by request of Mrs. John B. Lightfoot,
Acting Chairman of the Jamestown Committee.
A record of my work in beginning and carrying on the first
excavation of the ruins of the old Jamestown churches.
On the 15th of April, 1894 Mrs. Parke C. Bagby, Chairman
of the Jamestown Committee, and myself went to Jamestown;
and I was officially put in charge of the APVA property there.
It was as she said — "A picture of desolation." It seemed a
wilderness of poor deserted farm land.
Many, many things had to be done and done for the least
expense. The first thing was to have the property enclosed.
A fence was put up and then a hedge was planted.
In 1895 the first engineers came. They encamped within
our enclosure, and their 27 mules and heavy machinery undid
much that we had done to improve the place. After they left
we remade the road, planted more trees, sowed grass, planted
flowers and had some filling in and evening up of the ground
done. As time went on we renewed the posts supporting the
wire net around the ruins, put on a heavier wire net with
barbed wire above it.
Of course, this required constant visits to Jamestown to see
about it all, and many trips to Richmond to report to and to
confer with the Chairman of the Jamestown Committee.
Another cause of frequent visits to Jamestown was the neces-
sity of being present during the stay of large excursions and
picnics in order to protect our antiquities from relic hunters
among them.
It is hard to give an idea of work done at Jamestown.
Besides the almost endless task of bringing the grounds to some
degree of order, such work for the first few years had also
to be largely of a preservative character. Persons who were
authorities in such matters had to be found and consulted.
Small places in the graveyard wall and in the tower had to be
mended little by little, in the best way; and as often as I
could I had a bricklayer. All the time we had to consider the
expense. Some of the mending of the tower I did with my
own hands.
In May, 1896 we secured the services of a distinguished
architect of New York. He had the tower strengthened with
iron rods. He also had the little bushes and vines growing
among the top bricks taken out and the top of the tower
cemented so as to shed rain. He also attended to draining
some of the land. Sometimes later we were so fortunate as to
have a visit of a day from Mr. Charles Couper of Norfolk, at
which time he had the Mrs. Mary Knight tombstone and the
black marble Ludwell tombstone set. The latter was cracked
in a thousand places and had to be moved in the most skillful
manner.
I began from the first to study the covered ruins of the
church and gradually outlined them slightly. It is well known
that this foundation is that of the church built in 1639 and
rebuilt after Bacon's Rebellion. In the year 1897 I dug with
my own hands quite deep inside of the south wall of the
church and discovered the little inner wall composed of large
222
bricks and cobblestones. This must have been the foundation
of the Argall Church built 1617 or of the earlier one repaired
by Lord de la Ware in which our beloved Pocahontas was
married. The deep graves under the chancel and eastern wall
may have been graves in the Argall Church. They may have
been graves in the de la Ware Church. This earlier wall
which now extends only to the front line of the chancel of the
present ruins may have extended 4 feet further east than the
present eastern wall and so have had the length of the de la
Ware Church.
In the summer of 1900, finding that I should for several
years be obliged to be absent from Williamsburg a great deal,
I asked that Miss Mary Garrett should be appointed to serve
on the local Jamestown Committee whenever I should be away.
Later Miss Annie Gait was appointed to serve with her.
In May, 1901 we did some excavating among the graves east
of the church, and I should explain here that these gravestones
were 2 or 3 feet below the grass grown surface. They and the
church ruins were under heaps of debris and vegetation, the
growth and accumulation of many years. I had from time to
time dug among this and found many pieces of tombstones,
broken fragments left by vandals. These I had reburied for
safe-keeping.
After consulting with the Chairman of the Jamestown Com-
mittee, Mrs. Parke C. Bagby, I undertook the thorough un-
covering of the ruins of the church. About the 12th of May,
1901 we began with a few laborers who came from Williams-
burg every day. Later when we had to have more men and
board them at Jamestown, we were so fortunate as to secure
the services for a week or more of Mr. John Tyler, an engineer
employed by the Government on the Sea Wall for a period
and living at Jamestown. He began to work with us on the
25th of May. On the 29th of May we discovered the knight's
tombstone and the next day that of the minister.
It must be borne in mind that in 1793 Mr. Ambler of
Jamestown Island and Mr. Lee of Green Spring had that part
of the graveyard containing their family graves and part of the
church foundation enclosed by a wall using the bricks of the
church wall for that purpose. After discovering these memor-
ials to the minister and knight, we understood that the wall
had been made across the foundation just where it was for
their protection.
In June and July we turned our attention again to the
graveyard, digging down to the graves and opening many of
them. We found many pieces of tombstones among the debris.
Some of the fragments had lettering which we tried to piece
together matching the stone. We found that these graves like
those under the brick floor of the church often contained more
than one skeleton. We sometimes found coffin plates and
letters that had been on the tops of coffins, but so corroded and
crumbling as to make it almost impossible to understand their
meaning. The letters were composed of brass tacks nailed to
the coffin lids on strips of wood or leather, these strips drop-
ping to pieces.
To show how disappointing this method of marking the
coffins was, I will describe one or two:
One grave that we opened contained the skeleton of a
woman — on her breast the scant remains of a tiny little skeleton
the little head by her cheek — and two little skeletons, evi-
dently a previous interment, just under her feet. The tacks
that had been on the outside of the coffin partly fastened
together had fallen among these bones. Some seemed to be
Roman numerals ; others formed the letters E. J. Another grave
contained the skeletons of two grown persons and of at least
one child. Broken lettering had dropped down among the
ribs. As usual, I got down into the grave and traced over the
letters. Parts were the Christian symbol — the Greek letters.
Among the disconnected tacks were some connected together
to make us pretty sure of the name B. Harrison.
I should state here that almost from the time that I took
charge of the property, I found small bits of glass outside of
the east end of the church. In 1897 I found a great deal when
digging where the Mrs. Mary Knight tombstone is.
In the latter part of May, 1901, a good deal of this glass
was found between two of the newly exposed graves which lie
east of the chancel towards the south — thus showing two
windows back of the chancel. To the east broken glass, then
large masses of brick and mortar, and then still east but to-
wards the south much more of the broken small panes of glass
was found. We found some of the diamond-shaped lead
frame work that had held the little diamond-shaped panes of
these chancel windows.
Inside of the church very near the chancel to the north side
on the 2nd of June, 1901, we found much charcoal and many
nails showing woodwork burned. We thought this was the
pulpit. On the floor near the chancel we found some bronze
letters. They and other pieces of metal so melted that we
could only make out one letter. This was evidently from a
mural table on the north wall. Quantities of broken glass and
masses of bricks and mortar were found inside of the church
foundation and outside of the north wall, showing that after
standing some time that in some strong wind they had fallen
toward the north.
The floor of the church was of brick and underneath filled
with graves, many of them containing remains of four skele-
tons, showing four different interments. The lowest, deep in
the virgin soil almost crumbling to dust, was the best pre-
served. There was no evidence of any coffin decoration in
these very early graves.
June 25, inside of the church, we opened a grave (No. 6)
containing two skeletons. In the first or lower one we found
an Indian arrowhead. In the upper one, evidently of much
later date, we found about the knees a brass coin much cor-
roded ; on one side could be seen, however, the letters HERSET.
I sent this to a professional coin expert to examine. He said
it was a "lucky pocket piece" such as worn in old times by
grave diggers or any one and had accidentally been dropped.
This sort of coin is called by coin collectors "Mireaux."
223
In many of the graves we found pieces of broken crockery,
large oyster shells, etc. These, of course, were only put there
to raise the coffins a little so that the lowering ropes could be
drawn out; and the many broken pieces of pipes in the later
graves were carelessly dropped by the grave diggers who in
those days used tobacco to keep off contagious diseases.
Early in the excavating I found that it would be absolutely
necessary to cut down some of the large trees. One was a very
large sycamore, growing partly in the northeast corner of the
chancel, one root of which extended across the chancel and
the minister's and Knight's tombstones. To cut this down
and get the root free from the wall took several hard days
work for 14 men. Another was the large mulberry on the
north side of the church near the tower. These two trees
together with the top of the sycamore at the Blair tomb fur-
nished the wood from which our Jamestown souvenirs have
been made.
On the 20th of July our attention was called to a cornice
brick used as a paving brick, the molding side down in the
middle aisle near the tower on a grave*. This was the last day
of my work at Jamestown at this time. After this the work
was continued by Miss Mary Garrett and Miss Annie Gait,
excavating the chancel, etc.
In a report like this, where a general idea must be given
and brevity regarded, it is hard to tell all that was done at
Jamestown; much has to be condensed and much left out.
On the 7th of June we discovered in the southwest corner
of the church floor the 6x6 compartment in a frail foundation,
the two spades and grubbing hoe of the sexton ; the handles,
of course, had been burned up. In the northwest corner
opposite we found indications of a similar compartment of the
same dimensions.
The floor of the church south of the middle aisle has not
been excavated.
Respectfully.
Mary Jeffery Galt,
Jamestown Committee.
IV. Subcommittee Report
Report of Subcommittee of Jamestown
Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
June 30, 1906
The undersigned of the Subcommittee of the Jamestown
Committee of the APVA, with the assistance of Mr. Leal,
began excavating in the southeast corner of the chancel.
Three and one half feet below the level of the offset of the
foundation we found the bones of a child. One foot below
these bones we found the skeleton of a man. The cranium was
perfectly preserved, of classic shape, with low, broad brow.
* Thus showing that in the 1639 church or some previous church
there had been some ornamental bricks used.
This skeleton was of medium height; the feet and half the
leg bones extended beyond the east wall of the foundation of
the church of 1638, seeming to prove that the interment was
made prior to the laying of the foundation of the church of
that date. A few nails were found in the earth excavated,
and in the earth just above the man's skeleton was found some
silver tinsel, perfectly bright and in good condition, which
must have been ornaments of the coffin or pall to the coffin
or decorations on the clothing of the person interred. It was
found immediately above the shoulder bones of the skeleton.
July 1. The work was continued in the chancel. Three feet
below the offset, to the north side of graves discovered June
30th, we found 2 skeletons side by side, both of men. They
were not buried the same distance from east wall of foundation.
The head of one skeleton was projecting beyond the chancel,
west, into the body of the church. Nothing was found in
these graves except several pieces of clay pipe stems, a few
coffin nails, pieces of broken bricks and tiles, etc.
July 2. The same work was continued in the chancel.
Excavating north from the last found grave we discovered a
fourth grave. The skeleton was not lying on the back as was
usually found but was resting on the side. This interment was
made 2 feet from the east wall, and from the elbows up the
bones lay beyond the west limit of the chancel into the body
of the church. In this grave were found the usual number of
nails, one of which was very large, a piece of frail corroded
metal, probably a piece of coin, a small lead or pewter candle-
stick or sconce. Five feet below the offset to the east founda-
tion, we found the pieces of brick indicating where the coffin
had rested. Such bricks and lying in such position were found
in each grave, some not so well preserved as others. One of
the skeletons was that of a woman.
July 8. Continued our work of discovery in the chancel.
We found another grave. In this was the skeleton of a large
man, measuring 16 inches from knee to ankle bone. He was
interred 2 feet, 6 inches from east wall. In this grave were
found the usual number of nails, pieces of pipe stem and some
fragments of pottery.
July 9. We continued the work in the chancel. We found
some nails, one big key, small pieces of coffin wood, one piece
of coffin handle, pieces of brick, tiles and oyster shells, that
have been found in all the graves, pieces of pipe stem and two
bowls of small clay pipe, and also lead from some windows.
All of these were found 5 feet below the offset to east founda-
tion or floor to chancel. The foundation of the church wall
in center of the east wall is 6y2 feet in height. We found
that the wall varied in depth, the southeast corner being a
little more than 3 feet in height. We found 6]/2 feet deep and
1 foot from the east wall another grave, making the seventh,
containing a skeleton. Then on top of this another grave at
less depth, 2l/2 feet from the east wall was found ; at the head
of this were found the feet of another skeleton extending into
the body of the church. This third skeleton was one foot
nearer the surface than the second.
224
July 10. We continued our work and discovered the eighth
grave in the chancel ; found the usual pieces of bones, nails,
pipestems, and one small pipebowl. Five feet below the offset
or level to the chancel under the brick division separating the
chancel from the body of the church, we found a large iron
coffin plate in corroded and crumbling condition ; beneath this
plate we found bones one foot above this coffin plate, and 18
inches north of it was a skeleton extending into the body of
the church 7 feet from the north wall of the foundation.
July 11. We continued our work in the chancel and reached
the ninth grave and found two skeletons ; one was 3 feet below
the level of the chancel; the second one was 5 feet, 4 inches
below. We found a number of nails, pieces of pipestems, one
whole pipebowl with short length of stem, several broken pipe-
bowls and spur with rowel in it, this, of course, much rusted.*
This grave is the last one we opened. There is one more in
the chancel next to the north wall which was opened and
investigated and reported last year when the work was done
there. This makes ten graves in the chancel, side by side.
July 16. We made a last visit to Jamestown and saw the
earth carefully replaced in the chancel and thoroughly rammed,
packed and left to settle; the tiles replaced in safe position to
be permanently relaid when the weather in the fall will permit
work to be resumed.
In summing up results we would say that while to the
careless or casual observer it might appear as little in compari-
son to the time, labor, and efforts expended, yet we have
gained several important facts. In moving the tiles for the
purpose of investigation, we found them resting in a bed of
mortar. This mortar rested on a foundation of 18 inches of
such trash as collects over the ruins of any burned building,
broken bricks and tiles, pieces of plaster discolored by fire and
smoke, bits of glass, small fragments of charred wood, dirt,
etc. We then reached another layer of mortar in which were
still a few tiles the same width as the tiles above, but 1/2 inch
thinner; this mortar was still in position, and in many places
larger stretches of it still showed the imprint of the tiles. This
flooring of tiles extended the width of one tile or 9 inches
into the body of the church, under and beyond the present
brick division now separating the chancel from the body of the
church, showing that the first chancel was much longer in that
direction than the dimensions of the present or 1638 chancel.
We found that the skeletons in the graves under the chancel
do not lie directly east and west but a little northwest to south-
east. Following the line of the little inner wall rather than
the wall of the 1638 church, which the engineer last year
pronounced to be most accurately placed according to the points
of the compass.
Out in the churchyard we think we identified the grave of
Lady Frances Berkeley, and over it we placed the fragments
of her tombstone.
Respectfully submitted.
* No artifacts found by the A.P.V.A. in church or churchyard exca-
vations were preserved with their provenience ; hence it can only be
assumed that most of the cultural debris was precedent habitation de-
posit, with a scattering of items included with the burials. J.L.C
Mary Winder Garrett
Annie A. Galt
Acting Chairman.
Subcommittee of the Jamestown Committee, Association for
the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. This report was
submitted by Mrs. Parke C. Bagby at the autumn meeting of
the Association and published in the Times, Richmond, Va.,
November 5, 1902.
225
APPENDIX D
Pictorial Record of Excavations and Artifacts
Photographs for excavations prior to 1954, except for a few quate in the first year of operations. A total of 531 koda-
surviving kodachromes from the 1940's, are limited to black chrome 35 mm. slides were made of field operations and
and white negatives. Many of these are excellent, but they do significant objects. More than 500 black and white pictures
not always represent a complete field record. were taken of field operations, and more than 200 pictures of
During the 1954-57 archeological investigations, pictorial objects, paintings, and research subjects. Seven 100-foot reels
records were kept to the best of the abilities of the field men of 16 mm. kodachrome motion picture film were taken of field
and within the limitations of equipment, which was not ade- work.
227
APPENDIX E
Flora and Fauna of Early Jamestown
The following notations on flora and fauna are taken from
the scanty records of the 17th century. To the following special-
ists at the Smithsonian Institution goes credit for verification
and comment: Dr. D. H. Johnson (mammals), Dr. H. Fried-
mann (birds), Dr. Velva Rudd (plants), and Dr. Ernest A.
Lachner (fishes).
FLORA
These are the trees, shrubs, and herbs most commonly ob-
served by the first settlers on Jamestown Island and adjacent
lands of Tidewater Virginia:
Pine Pinus virginiana Mill. Virginia pine.
Walnut Carya spp. Sometimes called hickory.
Bruce cites Force (Vol. Ill, p. 15) and Spelman's
Relation of Virginia for the observation that a
quarter of the forest trees were of this species.
Juglans nigra L. Black walnut was most valuable.
Oak Quercus spp. Red, black, white, chestnut, and
Spanish.
Liveoak Quercus virginiana Mill.
Cypress Taxodium distichum (L. ) Rich.
Red Mulberry Morus rubra L. Adapted for silkworm raising.
Morus alba L. This species, a native of China,
was introduced by settlers.
Ash Fraxinus spp. Useful for soap ashes and potash.
Cedars Juniperus virginiana L. Red juniper.
Sassafras Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees. Common on
Jamestown Island now as in 1607.
Elm Ulmus spp. Minor importance.
Laurel Kalmia latifolia L. Mountain laurel.
Locust (?) Possibly the following:
Robinia pseudoacacia L. Black locust.
Gleditsia triacantbos L. Honey locust.
Gleditsia aquatica Marsh. Water locust.
Dogwood Cornus spp.
Cornus florida L. Flowering dogwood.
Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipijera L.
Balsam Probably Abies spp. Balsam fir.
Sugar Maple Acer saccharum Marsh. West of the Potomac
River.
Chestnut
Chinquapin
Hazel
Crab Apple
Cherry
Persimmon
Myrtle
Holly
Black Raspberry
Whortleberry
Cranberry
Gooseberry
Blackberry
Dewberry
Wild Grape
Strawberry
Muskmelons
Squashes, Gourds,
and Pumpkins
Maracocks or
Mayapples
Beans
Maize
Tobacco
Wild Oats (Mattoum,
in Algonquin)
Water Flag
Sumac
Puccoon
Snakeroot
Jimson Weed
Briar
Honeysuckle
Alder
Castanea dentata (Marsh) Borkh.
Castanea pumila Mill. Dwarf chestnut.
Corylus spp.
Crataegus spp.
Prunus serotina Ehrh. Black cherry.
Prunus virginiana L. Chokecherry.
Prunus pennsylvanica L. f. Pin cherry.
Diospyros virginiana L.
Myrica spp. Bayberry.
Ilex opaca Ait.
Rubus occidentals L.
Gaylussacia baccata (Wang.) K. Koch.
More properly, huckleberry.
Vaccinium spp.
Kibes spp.
Rubus spp.
Rubus trivialis Michx.
Vitis spp. Sloe, fox grape, and other varieties.
Fragaria spp.
(?) Native?
Cucurbita spp.
Podophyllum peltatum L.
Phaseolus spp.
Zea mays L. Corn.
Nicotiana rustica L.
Avena jatua L. The wild oat. More likely the
reference is to Uniola paniculata L., commonly
known as sea oats.
Cattail ? Boiled and stripped for cordage and fibre.
Rhus spp.
Lithospermum spp.
Eupatorium rugosum Houtt. Also other genera.
Datura stramonium L. Jamestown weed, early
noted as a narcotic. Introduced from Asia.
Smilax and Rubus. Various.
Lonicera spp.
Alnus spp.
229
FAUNA
"It is difficult to ascertain the reliability of some of the scien-
tific names given to several of the common names [of fishes J.
Without factual data in the form of descriptions, illustrations,
or specimens, we cannot do anything but suggest probable names.
"The fauna has certainly changed since early American times,
as well as the 'abundance' of certain 'food fishes.' These condi-
tions make it even more difficult to 'tie down' certain common
names used in the early days."
{Note by Dr. Ernest A. Lachner,
Associate Curator of Fishes,
United States National Museum.)
Fish and other seafoods, mollusks, and Crustacea were of the
greatest importance to the settlers. Civilization has greatly
changed the pattern of aquatic life in Tidewater Virginia, chiefly
in depleting certain species. The settlers were familiar with the
following:
Alewife Pomolobus pseudoharengus.
Of the herring family.
Sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus.
Shad Alosa sapidissima.
Sturgeon Acipencer sturio. Large and numerous — as long
as 12 feet!
Herring, more
likely Menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus.
Rock Roccus saxatilis. Several of the family Scorpaeni-
dae — possibly a killifish, Fundulus majalis.
Sole Achirus fasciatus.
Butt (?) A flounder or flatfish? Pseudopleuronectes
americanus.
Mullet Mugil cephalus.
White Salmon The "true salmon or trout" were probably never
abundant enough to be of any food value to
the early American settlers. This name may
have referred to one of several common marine
fishes that were "salmon shaped" and "silvery."
A guess is hazardous.
Roach, probably
Spot Leiostomus xanthurus.
Plaice, probably
Southern Flounder Paralichthys dentatus.
Eels Anguilla rostrata.
Lampreys Petromyzon marinus.
Cat Galeichthys jelis.
Perch Perca flavescens.
Tailor, the Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix.
Sun or Sunny Probably Eupomotis gibbosus. A small sunfish.
Bass Microplerus salmoides.
Chub Any of several common cyprinoid fish of the
Atlantic coast, such as the horned dace, Semo-
tilus atromaculatus, or the fallfish, Semotilus
corporalis.
Flounder
(other than Plaice) Pseudopleuronectes.
Whiting Menticirrhus.
Jack
Carp
Pike
Breme or Bream
Stingray
Drum
Toadfish
Smelt
Flatback We can find no reliable reference to this name.
Dr. L. P. Schultz, Curator of Fishes, United
States National Museum, and Mr. Isaac Gins-
burg, United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
could offer no help. Mr. Ginsburg has spent
his life studying western Atlantic fishes and is
the best living authority.
(?) Poronotus, the Pompano or Caranx, a jack.
Probably refers to a species of Caranx, com-
monly called jacks.
This may have been one of our suckers. The
"carp," Cyprinus carpio, so widely known in
the United States today was not known to the
settlers, for it was not introduced into America
until the late 1860's.
Probably a gar pike, of the family Lepisosteidae.
Probably the golden shiner, Notemigonus cryso-
leucas, depending on local terminology; or
sunfish, Lepomis.
Dasyalis.
Pogonias cromis. The common drumfish, known
to attain a weight of more than 100 pounds
and described by 17th century settlers as 6
feet in length.
Opsanus tau.
Probably a silverside, Menidia.
To these fresh and tidewater dwellers can be added mollusks
(especially large and numerous oysters which were much fancied
by the settlers and were always an important item of diet for
prehistoric and historic inhabitants) and crustaceans — the crabs
(one species having great size and much meat) , fiddler crabs, etc.
The bounty of fish in the tidewaters was impressive in the
early days of settlement, especially in spawning season. Shad and
sturgeon threatened nets and the latter were even killed with
axes near Jamestown (Rolfe's Relation, Virginia Historical
Register, Vol. I, No. Ill, p. 106). John Smith was impressed
with the pneumatic toadfish and fancied himself lost when stung
by a stingray.
Archeological evidence at Jamestown is abundant for the use
of oysters as food — shells are usually present in fills of all types.
They were used in the very mortar and plaster and pargetry of
the houses. Oyster shells were the common source for lime and
an important item from the founding days of the settlement to
the abandonment of Jamestown.
Conversely, traces of fish are rare because of the acid soil and
perishability of the bones.
Among the reptiles and amphibians, those of economic im-
portance were turtles, then common in the Tidewater, and land
tortoises, the carapaces of which are frequently encountered at
Jamestown and in prehistoric aboriginal sites. Strachey (p. 127)
mentioned the latter as eaten daily by the settlers. Oddy, bull
and tree frogs are not recorded as an item of diet — but if they
were not used it was by cultural, not gustatory, determination. At
least, they were appreciated during "Starving Time" (1609-10).
On the debit side, Jamestown did have some poisonous snakes,
notably the copperhead and possibly the water moccasin (his-
230
torically, not observed north of the James River). Most of the
snakes were harmless and beneficial, such as puff adder, corn,
black, water, and horn snakes. However, neither they nor any
other natural enemy could cope with the European brown rat.
This hardy creature quickly established itself in Virginia wher-
ever civilization brought its blessings. It did grievous damage
and still does.
Of all the fauna, the birds probably most impressed the
settlers. Wild fowl, like the fish, were present in Tidewater in
truly fabulous numbers, especially in migratory seasons when
they were drawn to the rivers, marshes, and sounds by lush
aquatic vegetation such as wild celery and oats, and by the
abundant Crustacea. Some may be listed as follows:
Ducks Aythya valisineria. Canvas-back.
Aythya americana. Red-head.
Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos. Mallard.
Mareca americana. Wigeon.
Dottrell Arenaria interpret A shorebird, the turnstone.
Oxeye A name used for small sandpipers of several
species.
Wild Goose Branta sp. (?)
Swan Probably the whistling swan, Olor columbianus.
Plover Charadrius sp. There are several possibilities.
Snipe Capella gallinago delicata.
Woodcock Philohela minor.
Curlew Numenius spp. Several possible species.
Blackbird Agelaiui phoeniceus. Redwing blackbird.
Turkey Meleagris gallopavo. Very numerous in early
Virginia, still extant in small numbers.
Heron Ardea herodias. Blue heron.
Egret Casmerodius albus egretta.
Sora Porzana Carolina. A short-billed North American
rail.
Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Bald eagle.
Crow Corpus brachyrhynchos.
Owls Tyto alba. Barn owl.
Otus asio. Screech owl.
Turkey Buzzard Cathartes aura septentrionalis.
Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vocijerus.
Jay Cyanocitta cristata.
Snow Bird Junco hyemalis. Slate-colored junco. Possibly also
the snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis.
Cardinal Richmondena cardinalis.
Lark Eremophila alpestris. Horned lark.
Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon. Belted kingfisher.
Dove Zenaidura macroura. Mourning dove.
Martin Progne subis.
Hummingbird Archilochus colubris.
Bluebird Sialia sialis.
Goldfinch Spinus tristis.
Partridge Colinus virginianus. Bobwhite or quail.
Pheasant Bonasa umbellus. Ruffed grouse.
Pigeon
Parakeet
Woodpecker
Mockingbird
Ectopistes migratorius. The passenger or wild
pigeon. These birds were irregularly migratory
and almost incredibly numerous when in pas-
sage flights. Easily killed, they were later to be
slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands for
market purposes and are now extinct.
Common in Tidewater in the days of settlement,
but now extinct there. Parakeets extended
south through Florida. Hariot, in A Brief and
True Report of the New Found Land of
Virginia, mentions "parets" on the Capes of
Hatteras in 1585.
Several possibilities.
Mimus polygloltos.
Virginia had one ubiquitous and preeminent land mammal
which was a prime source of meat to the Indians and to the
first settlers: The Virginia or white-tailed deer, Odocoileus
virginianus. Force (Vol. Ill, p. 13) states that in 1610 "hard by
the fort, two hundred in one herd have been usually observed."
Despite the depredations of civilization, this incredibly persist-
ent animal still abounds on the York Peninsula. In 1957 many
of them braved the presence of an astronomical number of ticks
and swarms of visitors to the 350th anniversary celebration to
enjoy the thickets of Jamestown Island. Some of the other land
mammals mentioned in early 17th century references follow:
Elk
Eastern Bison
Wolves
Black Bear
Dog
Gray Fox
Beaver
Raccoon
Otter
Mink
Wildcat
Skunk
Marten
Cervus canadensis. Presence inferred from de-
scriptions of Hamor, Strachey, and Force.
Bison bison. In 1613 Samuel Argall wrote to
Nicholas Hawes that he saw many "cattle" big
as kine, easy to kill and slow and heavy.
Purchas Pilgrimes speaks of the "shaggy" coats
of these "cattle." There is little doubt that
bison of the eastern variety ranged sufficiently
east of the Appalachians to be seen in the up-
per tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay waters.
Present and an annoyance to the early planters.
They were said to be relatively small, but
vicious. Presumably they were a variant of
Canis lupus, or possibly of Canis niger, the
red wolf of the Mississippi Valley.
Ursus americanus.
Known to the Indians. Described as appearing
like a cross between a wolf and Canis famili-
aris, a scavenger and carrion eater.
Urocyon cinereoargenteus. Red foxes were intro-
duced into this area from England by colonists.
There is no evidence that they occurred here
before sometime in the 18th century.
Castor canadensis.
Procyon lotor.
Lulra canadensis.
Muslela vison.
Lynx rufus.
Mephitis mephitis.
(?) The only marten-like animal in this region
was the fisher, Martes pennanti, and it was re-
stricted to the highest parts of the Appalachians.
231
Squirrels
Hare
Opossum
Muskrat
Panther
Sciurus carolinensis. Gray squirrel.
Sciurus niger. Fox squirrel.
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus. Red squirrel.
Glaucomys volans. Flying squirrel.
No ground squirrels in this area except chip-
munk, Tamias s trial us, and woodchuck, Mar-
mota monax.
Probably the cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus flori-
danus.
Didelphis marsupialus .
Ondatra zibethicus. Still numerous in the marshes
of Jamestown Island.
Felis concolor. This large cat, sometimes called
cougar or American lion, was extant in the
upper Tidewater reaches in the days of contact
with the wilderness. It was seen in Gloucester
County as late as the end of the 17th century.
See Bruce, Economic History oj Virginia, Vol.
I, p. 128.
Of insects we have little descriptive material. Plainly, the
insect which most concerned the settlers was the indigenous
mosquito which smote them early and often when the season
was on, doubtless carrying the principal fever. This was more
likely yellow fever than malaria, since the settlers became
"seasoned" to it — if they survived.
Ticks (not insects, but arachnids) presumably are a recent
import. Had they been present, the settlers would certainly have
described this greatest present threat — with mayflies a close
second — to human joy at Jamestown.
232
APPENDIX F
Note: These tabulations of artifacts by feature at Jamestown are presented, not only to substantiate
observations and conclusions in the foregoing text, but also to provide comparative cultural and
architectural data for students of the 17th- and 18th-century colonial sites in the New World.
TABLE X.— Structure 17
Artifacts
F-l
(West)
F-2
(Central)
F-3 and
General
Ceramic:
Brick: Local, from fill (see text for measurements)
Dutch
South stair
Tiles, roofing: Flat, most with mortar adhering.
Pantiles
F-3 floor (part)
10
100 (est.)
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German: Brown-mottled
English:
Blue-on-gray .
Brown-mottled
White
Earthenware:
Spanish (?) Olla
Locally made ( ?), unglazed
Locally made, lead-glazed
English slip-decorated (brown spots, yellow glaze)
English sgraffito
Italian sgraffito
English lead-glazed: Dark
Light
English coarse-tempered, Devon
16
1
7(1 with molded
pattern )
1
4
32
Small earthenware bowl, lead-glazed interior, probably English, 1660-1700 (J-7582).
Large pot, lead-glazed interior, probably American late 17th-early 18th century
(J-7597)
3
1
3
17
18
(including rectan-
gular baking dish)
(F-2 presumed)
Bartman large jug,
date 1661 and
medallions (old
Cat. No. 46)
13
9
3
53
8
9
1
12
20
5
Delftware:
B/W (English-Dutch)
English: White
Purple/white
Manganese purple-speckled
Polychrome
Orange/white
Creamware
28
( 1 English trans-
fer printed)
89
13
2
7
1
1
3
Not counted.
233
TABLE X. — Structure 11 — Continued
Artifacts
F-l
(West)
F-2
(Central)
F-3 and
General
Ceramic — Continued
Porcelain:
English?
Oriental
Tobacco pipes:
Stems, white:
5/64 . . .
6/64 . . .
7/64 . . .
1680-1710?
5
70
23
8/64
9/64 . . .
Bowls, white:
1680-1710
1690-1740
Stems, brown:
5/64 . . .
6/64 . . .
7/64 . . .
8/64 . . .
9/64 . . .
22
2
9
13
3
10/64
11/64
Bowls, brown, indeterminate
several
est. 1680-1740
Metal:
Iron:
Hinges:
Butterfly, 3" and 4"
Cocks Head, 6V2" x 33/8"
H-Hinges, 5V2" to 7%"
Strap, some pairs, some with pintle, 12" to 24"
Pintles, 2%" to 4%"
Lock plate:
31/4" x 4yg" with "cross" keyhole
2 holes, 2%" x 3%"
2V4" x 33/4"
Rim lock ( ? ) , 3" x 4"
Cabinet (?) lock, 2V2" x 2%", heart-shaped . . .
Lock fragments, lot
Lock bolt, 12V4" long
Keys, 41/i" to 51/2"
Latches, 5" to IOV2" long
Catch, 3V8"
Casement, 4'/4" and 8V2"
Hasps:
%" hasp and staple
4%"
Spikes, 3" to 9%", heads, %" to 1%"
Staples, 2V4" to 5"
Hooks, 3V2" to 6l/2"
1670-1700?
5
55
33 (2 from below
floor bricks)
8 (one from be-
low floor bricks)
2
2
51
3
7
38
62
19 (one from be-
low floor bricks)
1
2 (one from be-
low floor bricks)
several
(one nearly com-
plete pipe be-
neath paving,
est. 1650-80)
3
27
12
1
1
5
10
234
TABLE X.— Structure 77— Continued
Artifacts
F-l
(West)
F-2
(Central)
F-3 and
General
Metal — Continued
Iron — Continued
Nails: Estimate 20 lbs. Originally excavated from general structure — present number
unknown. All wrought, mostly rose-headed, HABS sheets show 2" to 4" illustrated.
Fire fork
Flintlock ( J-301 )
Ladle
Hammer
Fire tongs, long
Poker
Adz
Casements:
2 fragments of a casement and 4 fragments of saddle bars
Fragment of casement, lYi" x 14"
2 saddle bars (broken)
Fragment of casement, 5"
Spade blades, 7%" and 10%" long
Miscellaneous iron (unspecified)
Brass :
Molded, round-headed upholstery tack
Pan, brass, with handle
"Lead and brass objects" (unidentified)
Lead:
Objects, unidentified
Cames, pieces
Pewter, basin, 13" diameter, 3V2" bigh (J-7773)
Glass:
Window, diamond-shaped, green to clear
Wine-bottle fragments (early 18th century)
Restored wine bottles (old Cat. No. 7514, 678, 2)
Plaster, ornamental:
Pieces from south stair
West wall, pieces
Pieces, at large
Fireplace, south center section
Slate, roofing:
8%" x 5" .
Fragments .
66 (cannot at present be identified in collection)
1 (J-10,926)
17 pieces
250
2— late 18th
century
4(1 w/nail hole)
11
29
M?)
1375
1 — fourth-quarter,
17th century
5
8
26
22
23 plus
Lot 13
4" x 4" x l"2boxes
235
TABLE XI.— Structure 18
Artifacts
Lot 89:113, old lot 184— mostly
general but some from vicinity
of S-18, Ditch 15, and Well 3
Artifacts
Lot 89:113, old lot 184 — mostly
general but some from vicinity
of S-18, Ditch 15, and Well 3
Ceramic:
Metal:
Bricks
Described as present only; assumed
Iron:
1 — 4 in., directly above S-18:
local
Spear head, wrought-iron ....
1
Tiles, roofing:
3-tine kitchen fork, without
Flat
20 fragments, no mortar adhering
200 fragments, est.
handle
1
Pantiles
Flint-lock pistol spring
Flint-lock pistol lock fragment
1
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
1
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray
71 (1 fragment Bartman jug
w/medallion)
128
Scythe blade fragment
Key, 3" long
Handwrought nails, spikes,
1
1
2600 est.
English (?) mottled brown . .
12
tacks, many with mushroom
English white Staffordshire . .
Earthenware: Locally-made lead-
16 (ca. 1760)
Est. 200 sherds, all suggesting sec-
heads, fragments of strap
iron and plate, knife blades
glazed, English lead-glazed,
ond-half 17th century — probably
and indeterminate.
light and dark, are represented ;
mostly third quarter
Brass:
also some coarse-tempered
English utility-ware.
Spoons
2
Tacks
2
Delftware: English-Dutch B/W,
Est. 200 sherds
Objects, indeterminate
4
English delft (1640-50) plates,
vessels and porringers.
Spanish and Lisbon majolica . . .
Tobacco pipes:
Stems, white:
Est. 20 sherds
Spoon fragment
Brass and lead objects, inde-
terminate
1
2
Brass and peweter handle . . .
Lead:
1
6/64
2 5 Note: 102 out of estimated 300
51 fragments were measured as
Bale seal
1
7/64
Came fragment
1
8/64
23 sample.
Shot
1
9/64
3 1650-80 plus
Pewter flagon fragment
1
4-"LE,,; 1-"WG"; 1-"R"
Silver, token
1
Bowls, white (All last-half
100 est.
17th century, majority last
quarter.)
Glass:
Wine bottles: Fragments 1660-
Stems, brown (Two-thirds are
100 est.
75 (some to end of century) . .
700
9/64 or larger, 1/3 are 7/64
Whole with fleur-de-lis seal. .
1
and 8/64.)
Bowls, brown (Last-half 17th
20
Gin bottles, fragments
Bottle seal, fleur-de-lis
50
1
century (est.).)
Ornamental plaster, fragments ....
195
236
TABLE XII.— Structures 19 A, 19B, and 45; Wells 4 and 11; Ditches 17 and 18. (Lot 23,
general)
Artifacts
S-19A fill
S-19B
S-45
Ref. pit E.
of S-19B
W-4
W-U
D-17
D-18
Lot 23
eramic:
8
2
33
1
Roofing (9 to 10 x 5 V2 to 5% x i/2 to 5/8
20 (w/
Pantile (13 x 9^4 to 9V2 x 1/2 inches)
700 in vicini
and
ty of S-19A
19B.
6
mortar)
Salt-glazed stoneware:
31 (some
1 (jar)
18th C.)
50 (i/4
White, decorated with blue and purple — 17th
1 (jug Cat.
No. J-7517)
18th C.)
1
Earthenware:
100
American (?) lumpy glaze
1 small jar
(J-7590)
6
70
17
English slipware:
3
1
2
1
Del ft ware:
120
10
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
5/64
3
23
23
13
5
4
7
32
(1-dec.)
14
(1-dec.)
3
1
1
6
(1-dec.)
1
1
7
1
6/64
8
33
(2-dec,
1-"LE")
17
3
13
(1-dec.)
16
(1-dec.)
2
7/64
50
(2-dec.)
25
8
1
8/64
9/64
White bowls:
1600 1625
1 (Old Cat.
1650-1675
1
15
1 (complete)
[2 frag.
lead pipe]
1
5
9
(1-dec.)
11
(1-dec.)
1
2
4
5
1
1
4
7
1
1
7
(1-"LE")
3
13
15
5
14
25
1
3
1
7051)
1675-1700
2
1
1
18th century
Brown stems:
6/64
7/64
2
9
3
8/64
30
30
5
9/64
10/64
1
Brown bowls:
1675-1700 (estimated)
Porcelain (Oriental) teacup
1
237
TABLE XII.— Structures 19 A, 19 B, and 45; Wells 4 and 11; Ditches 17 and 18. (Lot 23, general)— Continued
Artifacts
Metal:
Iron:
Nails
Spikes
Pintles
Staples
Bolts
Latch bar or bolt
Escutcheons
Keys
Drawer pulls
Center strap hinge
HL hinge
Cabinet hinge
Lock plate
Strap hinge with pintle
Strap hinges, large
Butterfly hinge
Chest or door pull
Casement frame fragments
Fireplace spit
Sword blade fragment
Rapier, hilt
Cannonball
Brass:
Piece, indeterminate
Trigger guard
Spoon bowl
Thimble
Brass and silver button
Copper pot lid
Lead: Came fragments
Tobacco-pipe fragments
Pewter, spoon handle (pied-de-biche type)
Silver, spoon bowl
Glass:
Window-quarrel fragments
Bottles: Gin
Wine (some melted, 19A floor)
Bottle, recon. 1675-1700
Goblets, fragments
Bottle seals
Roofing slate
Arrowhead, Indian
S-19A fill
S-19B
Quantities of nails and
spikes in and around
Structure 19.
2 (door)
1
1
present
1
1
1
1
1
1 (floor)
1
1 (surf.)
1
1 (vault)
1
1
several
2
1
1 (Old Cat.
2112)
60 +
(J-7295)
231 lastQ;
17th C;
2— 18th C.
1
1 (Old Cat.
No. 5617)
1 ("GL")
S-45
25—
lastQ
17th C.
Ref . pit E.
of S-19B
55
W-4
10—
lastQ
17th C.
W-ll
D-17
D-18
Lot 23
12
2
300—
lastQ;
20— 3rd Q
17th C.
1 ("HG")
present
238
TABLE XIII.— Structure 21
Artifacts
0-12"
12"-24"
12"-clay
Brick to
12" above
brick
Add'n W. of
fireplace wall
Brick fill
behind
hearth
18" below
paving
Depth
unknown
Ceramic:
Brick:
Local Note: 9 brick fragments from Lot
B 86 are fired dark-gray and 5 have
4l/4x9x2%
4 x 8l/2 x 2V4
2 chamfered
1
(4l/2x85/8x2l/8)
45
Tile, roofing:
30
7
1
1
81
4
3
3
Earthenware:
1
9
48
49
7
22
1
2
3
2
4
2
1
1
9
1
12
1
1
(J-7328)
2
1
(IF)
7
(4 LE, 1
Fleur-de-lis,
1 dec. )
6
(3LE, 2 dec.)
1
(Old at.
281)
2
1 restored
Bristol delft plate "Britannia Rules the
3
ointment
cup
(J-7319)
1 large
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
6/64
4
10
3
10
4
2
plate
(Old at.
1467)
7/64
8/64
White bowls:
1675-1725
4
(1TO)
Indian pottery (undescribed)
8
Porcelain (Oriental)
2
1
Metals:
Iron:
1
Jew's-harp
1
Scissors
Buckles
1
5
239
TABLE XIII.— Structure 21— Continued
Artifacts
0-12"
12"-24"
12"-clay
Brick to
12" above
brick
Add'n W. of
fireplace wall
Brick fill
behind
hearth
18" below
paving
Depth
unknown
Metals — Continued
Iron, knife-blade fragment
1
Lead:
Buttons, indeterminate
2
1
5
1
1
3
Bale seal
Brass:
Pins
Snuffer
Buckle
1
Thimbles
Eyelet
1
Handles, indeterminate
2
Coin (copper?) indeterminate
1
Trade token
Geo. Ill
1773
1
Carolus II
1672
1
Ca.-FRA
ET. HIP.
R
Henry
Jenner
1656
Pewter:
Cylinder, indeterminate
1
2
(one is the
Copeland spoon,
1675)
5
1
±20
Spoon handles
Slate:
Flagstone
Roofing
Glass:
Wineglass or goblet, fragment
55
106
Window
28
Bottles:
Gin
3 or 4
3 or 4
several
several
Wine
several
1
(Old Cat.
517)
several
frag.
1640-1650
2 HG, FN,
GL.IR
Seals
Bone:
Die
1
Handle
5
3
Indian projectile point
1
240
TABLE XIV.— Structure 31
Artifacts
Ceramic:
Bricks:
Local (of fallen chimney)
Local, molded, many types including gauged water table, flat
door and window angles, ovolo molded and squincheon. .
Tiles, roofing:
Flat
Pantiles
Stoneware:
Salt-glazed
Brown-mottled
Blue- and purple-on-gray
Earthenware:
Lead-glazed
Probable locally-made
English
Milk pan, N. Devon, coarse temp.— J-7530
Pot cover — J-7476
Delftware:
Dutch 17th C. (late)
Probable English 18th C
Tobacco Pipes:
Stems white:
4/64
5/64
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
Bowls, white:
1680-1720
post-1720
Stems, brown:
7/64
8/64
9/64
Metal :
Iron:
Undefined
Andiron, English make, 17th-century type, probably ca. 1650,
decorated with cherub head
Brass:
Buttons
Buckles
Thimbles
Spigot
Spur
Spoon bowl
Tube — pistol barrel .:
Below fallen
E. Chimney
Av. 8 3/4 x 414 x
21/2 to 2%
7
10
On steps or 12"
to cellar floor
2 fragments of
small jar
2 fragments of
German small mugs
10
2
1
1 (initial "X")
4
12
12
25
4
4
5
7
(2-TD)
1
1
1
Cat. No. 2104
under crosswall — 1
Fill:
General
Several
20 (selection)
4 (selection)
Fragments of 1 or
2 large 18th C.
stoneware crocks
Vicinity
400 to 500 stem and bowl fragments,
ranging from first half, 17th century
to early 19th century. Most from first
half of 18th century. (Both white
and brown stems represented, the
white in the great majority.)
Many pieces — to be identified
from collection
1
(J-2978)
4
6
2
241
TABLE XIV.— Structure 31— Continued
Artifacts
Spoon: Bowl, latten
Handle, latten, trifid
Rings
Candlestick fragment
Candle snuffer
Tack
Skillet fragment and chafing dish
Enameled handle
Clock wheel
Sheet
Miscellaneous unidentified objects
Copper coins:
Probably George III
Georgius III Rex Virginia 1773 •
Silver, buttons
Pewter :
Spoon handle
Spoon bowl
Button
Handle fragments
Flask top
Lead:
Cames
Fragments, indeterminate, sheet
Ball
Ring
Glass:
Window
Wine bottles:
4th Quarter- 17th century
Late 17th-early 18th century
Late 18th century
Indeterminate
Plaster:
Plain, oyster shell
Pargetry (from 50,000 original total)
Below fallen
E. Chimney
12
On steps or 12"
to cellar floor
Fill:
General
(1 round end)
1
25
(against both
wood and brick)
200 plus
(10 in collection —
65 listed in catalog)
2
J-7567
J-7572
5
13
70
Vicinity
15
242
TABLE XV.— Structures 23, 49, 55*: Lot 98:100 (Old 34)
Type
Lot in General —
Surface — undisturbed
Ceramic:
Brick, local (see text)
Tiles, roofing: Flat
Pantiles . . .
Pipes:
White stems:
6/64
7/64
8/64
White bowls, 1675-1720
Brown stems: 7/64
8/64
Glass, wine-bottle fragments, 1675-1700 plus
10
50
21
45 (1-LE)
26 (1-WE)
5
6
18
150 (est.)
* No significant data pertaining to these 3 structures appears on the
structure artifact cards.
243
TABLE XVI.— Structure 26 and Vicinity
Artifacts
No data
0-18"
0-2'
0-3'
15-36"
18-40"
Ceramic:
Bricks:
Local (see text)
Dutch
1
600±
1
Tiles: Roofing (see text), flat
Floor
217
1
3
5
1
18
1
2
2
2
10
13
2
4
4
1
12
2
Fireplace, Dutch
Brown-glazed, 1 Vs" thick
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
3
1
German blue-on-gray
English gray
2
6
4
46
3
2
6
1
2
9
5
22
1
2
11
1
Earthenware:
Indian cord-marked pottery
Locally made, lead-glazed
15
Locally made, unglazed
Spanish olla
2
North Devon coarse-tempered
3
1
8
8
9
2
1
5
English slipware:
Combed
1
2
4
3
14
7
3
1
Marbled
English hard-fired red ware
English lead-glazed:
Dark
7
Light
16
English sgraffito
Hispanic-Italian green-glazed ware
2
5
2
1
21
4
2
4
Italian sgraffito
American Rockingham ( 19th-20th C.)
Misc. American (?) 19th C. wares
5
17
9
1
4
Delftware:
Blue/White (English-Dutch)
2
English White
2
English manganese Purple/White
1
14
25
20
10
(Idee.)
5
29
(Idee.)
5
3
1
4
11
1
Blue and Purple/ White (Lisbon majolica)
Porcelain (Oriental)
Pipes:
White stems:
6/64
9
11
18
7
2
1
5
8
21
14
4
7/64
8/64
9/64
White bowls:
1625-50
1650-75
1675-1700 +
Brown stems:
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
12/64
Brown bowls, Indeterminate
1
6
Glass:
Window
Bottles, gin
Bottles, wine
2
drawers
(4th Q.)
Modern, white
244
TABLE XVI. — Structure 26 and Vicinity — Co
itinued
Artifacts
No data
0-18"
0-2'
0-3'
15-36"
18-40"
Metal:
Iron:
Lock plates
Spikes, wrought
Staple, wrought
Key
3
6
1
2
Knife blade and bone handle
1
Chest lock
1
1
1
1
1
Strap hinge
V-shaped padlock
Drawer handle
Lead, came
Brass:
Pin
1
Thimble
1
Spoon bowl
1
Objects, unidentified fragments
85
1
Pewter :
Tankard hinge
1
Spoon handle
1
Copper, tack
1
Slate
30
245
TABLE XVII.— Structures 27, 28, and 67; Lots 59 and 60 (96:99 and 96:100)
Type
Ceramic:
Brick, local (see text)
Tiles: Floor (glazed, one a kiln prop)
Roofing, unspecified
Earthenware:
Local, lead-glazed
English, lead glazed:
Dark
Light
Coarse-tempered, N. Devon
Hispanic 2-handled jug, amphora . . .
English slipware, combed
Italian sgraffito
Delftware:
Blue/White, E-D
English, white
Lisbon majolica
Spanish majolica . . .
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
5/64
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
White bowls:
1600-25
1625-50
1650-75
1675-1700 plus
Brown Stems: (All decorations are punctate.)
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
Brown bowls:
1650-75? .
1675-1700?
Glass, bottles:
Gin
Wine . . . .
S-27 and vie.
(5 in cat.)
52
30
3
15
1
1
1
39
( 1 5 blue spatter-
2 in S-27)
1
3
14
21
2
( 1 waster, 1 dec. )
1
(deer dec.)
S-28 and vie.
5
24
19
10
1
2
12
( 6 — no heel )
10
8
InS-67
11
8
4
1
1
15
Lots 59 and 60
43
2
5
5
13
(2 vessels)
54
17
1
2
2
49
54
40 (I-LE)
12
18
4
3
29
(9 — no heel
1-L, 1-W)
7
31
(2 dec.)
67
(5 dec.)
47
(4 dec.)
4
(Idee.)
10
(5 dec.)
2 drawers
( l-3rd Q.
rest 4th)
246
TABLE XVll.—Structures 27, 28, and 67; Lots 39 and 60 (96:99 and 96: 100)— Continued
Type
Metal :
Brass or copper:
Brass button
Key, clock? (ornamental)
Pins
Copper coin, half
Stone:
Indian scraper
Arrowpoint . .
Roofing slate .
S-27 and vie.
1
1
11
S-28 and vie.
InS-67
Lots 59 and 60
247
TABLE XVIII.— Structure 33 and Ditch 5
Artifacts noted in catalog
Ceramic:
Tile fragments: Roofing, unspecified
Floor
Dutch brick
Salt-glazed stoneware (present but unspecified — included in "Miscellaneous Pottery")
Earthenware:
Unspecified "Miscellaneous Pottery" fragments
Sgraffito:
Bowls, plates and dishes
Porringer
Pitchers
Candlestick
Fragment, unspecified
English yellow slipware:
Bowls, plates, or dishes
Pot
Porringer
Delftware:
Blue/White, Eng.-Dutch
Bristol ( ?) 1650-1700 .
Lambeth (pre-1680)
Dish
Pot, vert, sides
Pot or jar, 1570-1600
Bleeding bowls
Albarello drug pot
Tile*
Fragments, unspecified
English lead-glazed inside and out
North Devon coarse-tempered, lead-glazed:
Baking dish, rectangular
Bowls
Possibly American, 1690-1725 milk pan
Clay-pipe fragments, white and brown (characteristically late 17th-early 18th century)
Metal (incomplete):
Iron:
Gun barrel
Ball
Brass:
Spoon handle
Fire tongs, fragment
Buttons
Candle-snuffer fragment
Buckles
Wire and pins
Latten, object, unidentified, stamped
Pewter, neck of flask — screw cap . .
Ditch 5 fill Structure 33 in Ditch 5
36
( 2 show glaze drippings-
kiln props?)
1
768
23
1
12
1
1
10
1
1
1
(pot)
3
(cups)
1
1
1
2
1
6
161
1,883
1
2
3
4
8
22
1
3
164
4
3
2,621
2 pots
( 1 drug)
2 cups
1 chamber pot
1
plate
161
1 jug with vert, handle
1 pipkin (3 legs)
1 pot lid
1
37
11
* Note: Approximately 8,000 delft tile fragments were reported found in old Lots 101 (93:110) and 102 (93:111). Only a small representation
remains in the collection.
248
TABLE XVIII.— Structure 33 and Ditch 5— Continued
Artifacts noted in catalog
Metal — Continued
Lead:
Shot
Carries
Bale seals . .
Copper, patch
Glass:
Gin bottle reconstruction
Wine bottles, 3rd-quarter 17th century
4th-quarter 17th century
Miscellaneous glass fragments (mostly wine bottles?)
Wine-goblet:
Fragments
Restored, Venetian ca. 1675
Bottle seals:
HH
Merchant's mark
E (Bell) H
Bone:
Handles
Comb fragments
Slate, roofing
Plaster:
Wall
Ornamental
Ditch 5 fill
4
2
2
(BG.MO, RWI, H)
1
1
5
224
12
1
8
1
3
12
2
10
Structure 33 in Ditch 5
1
1
3
540
8
1
12
249
TABLE XIX.— Structure 40-72
Artifacts
Ceramic:
Brick:
Local (see text)
Dutch (several from vicinity)
Tiles:
Floor
Roofing: flat
Tobacco pipes:
White stems, indeterminate
1670-1720 plus:
4/64
5/64
6/64
7/64
8/64
White bowls:
1680-1720
1700-1720 plus
Brown stems:
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
Brown bowls, indeterminate
Salt-glazed stoneware. (Note: 45 sherds recorded, probably mostly
stoneware, but are not located.)
Earthenware: English lead-glazed, light
Metal:
Iron: Miscellaneous pieces unspecified and cannot be located
Buckle, fragment
Casement
Glass:
Bottles, wine, pieces
Miscellaneous, undefined
Bones, indeterminate (unspecified in collection and not preserved) ..
Plaster: Lath-marked with split laths
Pargetry
B-l Level
100
1
2
29(1-IF)
16
4 (1-LE)
2
2
1
2
5 (Idee.)
2
2
100
250 (late nth-
early 18th C.)
107
B-2
3
11
5
7
2
40
200 (late nth-
early 18th C.)
122
12
76
Under center
of stair
1 (on bottom
step)
Floor
level
Hole in floor
8 (late
17th C.)
250
TABLE XlXa.— Structure 40-72— Continued
Artifacts noted in catalog
In Structure
Near Structure
Metal :
Iron:
Staple
Key
Knife blade
Drawer pull
Lock-plate fragment
Copper :
Name plate "S.B. 1779"
Tankard fragment
Brass:
Spout of teapot
Pot fragment
Button
Spoon fragment
Buckle, plain
Rings
Silver, buttons
Pewter:
Buttons
Spoon bowl — "rat tail"
Glass, bottle seals: Tradesman's mark
"HG" and Lion's Head
"HH"
1 (30"-39")
1 ("104")
251
TABLE XX.— Structures 44-33-138, 58, and 65
Artifacts
S-44
S-53
S-138
Near
S-44-53-138
S-58-59
S-65
Ceramic:
Bricks:
Water-table
Tile, roofing, frag
Vessels: 400 pieces of miscellaneous pottery are
listed for Structure 44 but not located in collection.
300 additional pieces cataloged for S-53 and 138,
but not observed in collection
Delft tile
Delftware (unspecified)
Pipes (about 200 stems observed — not measured)..
Stems, white: Floral relief 8/64
Monogram K 8/64
Stems, plain:
6/64
7/64
Stems, brown
42
69
present
426
frag, in cat.
3
72
white stems-
est. 1625
to 1750
1
7-early
17th C.
Bowls, white:
1620-1650
1675-1700
1680-1720
ca. 1750
Bowl, brown (est. 1720-50)
Glass:
Wine-bottle fragments (all from 4'-5' level):
Late 18th, early 19th
Late 17th, early 18th
Bottle seal, Leoville Medoc ,
Seal: RW (same as from house in London, 1666 —
Ralph Wormley?)
several
at least 2
(6"-12")
1
Goblet fragment:
Cutglass
Molded
Prunt
Vial
Window
Enameled
Metals:
Iron:
Knife blade
Buttons, steel . . .
Brass:
Buttons
Buckles
Thimbles
Sheet
Candle snuffers . .
Spoon bowl
Spoon handle . . .
Bolt
Andiron fragment
Tacks
9 (l"Gilt")
12
2
1
100 +
(50 near)
1 ("PF)
1 (seal top)
252
TABLE XX.— Structures 44-53-138, 58, and 65— Continued
Artifacts
S-44
S-53
S-138
Near
S-44-53-138
S-58-59
S-65
MetaJ (Continued)
Latten:
Spoon handle
1
1
1
•
Lead:
5
1
1 anthemion
decoration
Seal
Pewter:
Spoon bowl
Spoon handle
1 (near)
Cap
1
Spoon handle
1 (near)
Silver:
Buttons
3 (2 near)
96
(20 near)
Spoon
1 (slip end)
373
Ornamental plaster fragments
55
291
674
12
253
TABLE XXL— Structures 71-74-77 and 41
Artifacts
surf. — 1'
l'6"-2'
Near
Ceramic:
Brick:
Local (see text for measurements)
Dutch
Tiles, roofing:
Flat
Pantiles
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray
Staffordshire "scratch blue," early mid-18th century
English white
Earthenware:
Locally made, lead-glazed
English lead-glazed, coarse-tempered
English slipware, marbled
English lead-glazed, dark
English lead-glazed, light
Delftware:
Blue/white (English-Dutch)
English white
Blue & purple/white (Lisbon majolica)
Porcelain, Oriental
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
5/64
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
White bowls:
1625-50
1650-75
Brown stems:
6/64
7/64
8/64
Brown bowls, indeterminate
Metal :
Iron:
Angle-iron fragment
Keyhole escutcheon
Hasp
Gouge
Knife blade
Key
Brass:
Clasp
Button
Hasp & tuck
Spoon fragment
Object, unidentified
Lead, bale seal
2
6
30
11
1
1
12
1
1 tankard
2
16
(Idee.)
34
8
(Idee.)
1 (dec.)
1
2
1
Jug, undec. J-7521
254
TABLE XXL— Structures 71-74-77 and 41— Continued
Artifacts
surf.— 1'
l'6"-2'
Near
Metal (Continued)
Pewter:
Spoon handle pied-de-biche
Spoon handle "RM"
Spoon bowl
Glass:
Bottles:
Gin, fragments .
Wine, fragments
Seal, ••H.G." .
Slate
Flint, English ....
Plaster, ornamental
9
58
( 1 neck —
1680-1700)
1
1
1
4
255
TABLE XXII.— Structure 100 Fill Area
TABLE XXIIL— Structure 106
Artifacts
Comments
Ceramic:
Brick:
Dutch
Many samples, various sizes.
9" x 4%" x 2l/g", mostly orange-
red and soft, some coping or
Local
rounded.
Tile (presumed
local ) :
Floor tile . . .
Incomplete, less than 7" on a side,
ca. 1V2 inch thick, some with
green glaze on top dripping over
sides.
Flat, roofing .
Over 100 pieces, probably local.
German-English blue-on-gray — 1
sherd
Stoneware
Earthenware:
Utility red . .
Light yellow lead glaze inside —
several sherds.
Delftware . . .
Blue-on-white inside of bowl frag-
ment, base has green glaze ex-
terior.
Pipes, white . . .
Many stems, a few decorated with
floral motif in relief.
Bowls: 1640-60 19
1660-80 6
Pipes, brown, local
Half as many stems as white, both
molded and modeled, former more
numerous. Two examples of mar-
bled and decorated stems.
Bowls: Molded: 5 (1 decorated).
Modeled: 3 (1 decorated
with roulette and initialled
"AT".)
Glass, Dutch gin bottles
Ca. 50 fragments.
Iron, handwrought
nails
Ca. 50, various sizes.
Artifacts
Ceramic:
Bricks, presumed locally made.
Tile (roofing?)
Stoneware, salt-glazed
Earthenware, English, lead-
glazed, light
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
6/64
7/64
8/64
White bowls:
1675-1700+
Brown stems:
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
Brown bowls, 1675-1700+
(estimate)
Metal:
Iron
Brass:
Pins
Button
Buckle
Lead, shot
Pewter (?), spoon bowl ...
Glass:
Wine-bottle fragments
Bottle, restored
Bottle seal fragment
Fill (general)
From one 10-foot square: 180 bricks,
clean; 20 bricks, mortar attached.
Described as present.
Note: "Pottery" mentioned by ex-
cavator but not identified;
presumably present.
One jar described with unique lat-
eral vertical lugs each perforated
with two superimposed holes.
Other samples not described.
1
8
11
4
1
2
8
6
2
Many nails and miscellaneous pieces
mentioned, not described.
3 — 3rd Quarter, 17th Century.
4 — 4th Quarter, 17th Century.
1— Early 18th Century.
1 — 4th Quarter, 17th Century
(near S-106) (Cat. J-7310).
1 (manufacturer's mark only).
256
TABLE XXIV.— Structure 110, Workshop Foundation
Artifacts
Ceramic :
Brick (see text for brick measure-
ments)
Crucible, for melting glass, frag-
ment
Tiles:
Roofing, flat
— showing intense heat ....
— bats-pot rests, glazed-
marked
Pantiles
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
Surface to 0.8'
German blue-on-gray
English blue-on-gray
Earthenware:
Indeterminate
Local :
Lead-glazed
No glaze
English lead-glazed, dark ....
Delftware:
Blue-on-white (Eng.-Dutch)
Polychrome
Wall or fireplace tile
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
7/64
8/64
9/64
White bowls:
1625-50 . . .
1630-70 . . .
Brown stems:
8/64
9/64
10/64
12/64
Brown bowls:
Indeterminate
1625-50
1650-75
Porcelain
170
4
33
7
(including top
of jug)
1
1
105
1
64
1
2
0.8' to Floor
1
48
50
9
625
2
3
( 1 dec. with
fleur-de-lis)
12
(3 dec,
1 fleur-de-lis)
3
Artifacts
Metal:
Iron:
Nails, handwrought
Spikes, handwrought
Saw, rip, teeth 1" between tips,
large, probably an ice saw .
Key
Hinges, strap, fragments
Scythe blade fragment
Wedge
Skewer
Hook
Spring — gun-lock fragment? . .
Latch hook ? fragment
Bar iron
Musket-barrel fragment, 21 mm.
bore diameter (.83 inch).
Touch hole not bored ....
Surface to 0.8'
Copper, sheet scrap fragments
Brass:
Eyelet
Fire-tool handle
Lead:
Came
Goose shot
Glass:
Bottles, gin, fragments
Beads (6 yellow, 1 blue, 2 white,
1 light blue)
Slate, roofing, fragment
Flint, English, pieces . . .
Indian arrowpoint
Mortar, samples
Plaster, plain
Bones:
Deer
Mammal, indeterminate
34
6
0.8' to Floor
22
(5" wide)
1
11
10
(Tempered with
glass, bone, and
brick fragments)
257
TABLE XXV .—Structure III— Kilns A, B, and C
Artifacts
Kiln Area, General
Kiln A
KilnB
KilnC
Pit under Kiln C
Ceramic:
Brick fragments, local, from fill, showing effects from extreme heat . .
Tiles:
32
579
57
2
7
234
12
3
1
(2i/8"to2y8"
thick)
33
2
Crucible fragment (glass making)
Stoneware:
2
German blue-on-gray
4
1
73
(incl. base of small
lYs" diam.
crucible)
39
English
Earthenware:
8
1
1
1
(part of bowl)
4
5
2
1
Delft:
Indeterminate
2
4
1
1
1
1
1
7
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
3
8/64
1
15
White bowls 16?5 50
3
Brown stems:
Indeterminate
1
1
14/64
1
Metal :
Iron:
12
115
49
2
7
1
1
1
2
33
Brass:
1
Horse trapping ornament fragment
1
Copper:
10
4
1
258
TABLE XXV .—Structure 111— Kilns A, B, and C— Continued
Artifacts
Kiln Area, General
Kiln A
KilnB
KilnC
Pit under Kiln C
Metal (Continued)
Lead:
1 piece
(1 lb. 2oz.)
1
1
1
Glass:
1
1
3
Bottles:
8
1
(3 partial bottles)
1
2
10
25
2
2
10
8
21
1
2
Slag (In Kiln C, pieces of iron ore had bits of charcoal interspersed) . .
8
1
2
1
3
Bone:
Deer
2
Large mammal, indeterminate
3
3
1
Boar tusk
5
Large bird bone
1
259
TABLE XXVI.— Structure 112
Area and Description of Artifacts
Zones below Cellar Floor
Room G (Zones 2 and 4) :
Tobacco pipes, brown stems 8/64
Nail, iron, handwrought
Garbage bone fragment, indeterminate .
Room H (Zones 2 and 4) :
Nail, iron, handwrought
Delftware, Dutch blue-on-white
Room I (Zones 2 and 4) :
Tobacco pipes:
White stems, 8/64
White bowl, indeterminate
Glass, gin-bottle fragments
Nails, iron, handwrought
Room } (Zone 2) :
Nails, iron, handwrought
Lead:
Pieces, indeterminate
Goose shot
Garbage bones, indeterminate fragments .
Cow tooth
Ceramic:
Stoneware, indeterminate, fire-damaged
Tobacco pipestems: White 7/64
8/64
Brown 9/64
11/64
Tobacco pipebowl, white, indeterminate
Room J (Zone 4) :
Earthenware:
Lead-glazed, local
Delftware, Dutch blue-on-white
Glazed, fire damaged, indeterminate . .
Tobacco pipe:
White stems:
8/64
9/64
10/64
White bowls, indeterminate fragments
Brown stems, indeterminate
Brass tack head, ornamental
Nail, iron, handwrought
Glass, window quarrels
Room J (Zones 2 and 4) :
Earthenware:
Lead-glazed, local
Delftware:
Dutch blue-on-white
English white
Tobacco pipe:
Stems, white:
8/64
9/64 (1-WB)
10/64
Bowl, white: 1650-75
Nails, iron, handwrought
Spikes, iron, handwrought
Quantity
Area and Description of Artifacts
Cellar Floor Detritus (in contact with floor)
Ceramic:
Tiles:
Flat
Pantiles
Tobacco pipes:
White stems 7/64
Brown stems 8/64
Stoneware, German brown-mottled
Earthenware:
English sgraffito
English lead-glazed, light
Devon coarse-tempered
Delftware:
Blue-on-white
Blue- and purple-on-white ( 3 or 4 pots)
Lisbon majolica
Porcelain (Oriental) whole cup
Metal:
Iron:
Handwrought nails
Hinges ( 1 probable)
Strap, 11 inches long
Cannonball, 4 lbs., 3 inches diameter ....
Pintles
Brass, button (in association with Burial 3) ■
Copper, braided copper wire V/% by V2 incn •
Glass, bottles, gin
Mortar: Shell-filled (samples)
Room G below brick floor and north wall . . .
Room B, west wall
Room B, interior wall
Plaster, lath-marked, pieces
Slate, roofing
Cording fragments, charred
Cellar fill (1 foot below surface to floor, all rooms)
Ceramic:
Bricks, large quantities of locally-made (see text
for measurement)
Tiles:
Flat, roofing
Pantiles
Stoneware, salt-glazed, German brown-mottled. . .
Earthenware:
Delftware: English-Dutch blue-on-white ....
English white
Indeterminate unglazed
Lead-glazed, local
North Devon coarse-tempered
Porcelain
Tobacco pipes:
Stems, white:
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
Quantity
7
5
5
3
1
1
7
28
1
150
1
1
2% lbs.
2
1
1
2
1
1
4
2
1
1
2
4
4
31
7
4
4
2
1
14
51
2 ( 1 cup)
1
4
10
9
1
260
TABLE XXVI.— Structure 1 12— Continued
Area and Description of Artifacts
Cellar fill (surface to floor of cellar) — Continued
Metal — Continued
Brass — Continued
Small, cylindrical, perforated fragment
Lead, fragment, fire melted
Glass, bottles:
Gin
Wine
Drop seal
Small square base
Mortar, oyster-shell, samples
Plaster:
Lath-impressed
Plain
Slates, roofing
Flint, English
Quartz crystal (?) shaped and polished, fragment.
Foundation area outside cellar (general surface to
undisturbed)
Ceramic:
Brick:
Building, local (see text for measurements)
Well brick
Water table, rubbed
Tiles:
Flat, roofing
Pantiles
Floor, beveled
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray
German gray
English
Earthenware:
Locally made, unglazed (?)
Locally made lead-glazed
English slipware (combed)
English sgraffito
Italian sgraffito
English lead-glazed:
Dark
Green
Light
North Devon coarse-tempered
Delftware:
English-Dutch blue-on-white
English purple-on-white
English white
English polychrome
Majolica blue-purple-on-white
Staffordshire, 18th-century English
Porcelain, Oriental (1 white cup included)
Melting-pot fragment, for glassmaking
Tobacco pipes:
Stems, white:
6/64
7/64 ( 1-SV) (2 decorated)
8/64 (6 decorated)
9/64 (2 decorated)
Quantity
1
1
10
3
1
1
2
6
7
12
1
1
1
2
56
8
4
8
15
3
1
4
55
2
1
3
3
1
1
2
29
1
15
3
2
1
3
1
5
98
155
65
Area and Description of Artifacts
Foundation area outside cellar — Continued
Ceramics — Continued
Tobacco pipes — Continued
Stems, white — Continued
10/64
11/64
12/64
Bowls, white:
Indeterminate
1625-50
1650-75—1 roulette decorated; 1-WB; 1
WC; 1-HI; 1-LE
1675-1700
Stems, brown:
7/64 ( 1 decorated)
8/64 (9 decorated)
9/64 (8 decorated, 2 marbled)
10/64
11/64
12/64
Bowls, brown:
Indeterminate
1650-75 (2 decorated)
Metal :
Iron:
Nails, handwrought
Rivet in small iron plate
Screw, blunt point, 2% inches
Spikes, some with large heads
Tacks
Pintles
L-shaped picture hooks (?)
Ring
Cloven iron knob (screw head?)
Horseshoe fragments
Pike tip or bar iron
Casement-frame fragment, wrought iron . . .
Handles (probably to chest)
Hinges, strap, fragments
Hinge and screw
Bar, wedge-shaped
Knife blade
Sliding bolt from lock
Thumb latch
Padlock
Threaded bolt, eyelet in head
Bolt fragment
Stamp or brand with letter "M"
Brass:
Straight pins
Tacks
Hook
Ring or eyelet
Small plate, decorative
S-shaped ornament, 3Vi" 'ong
Copper:
Sheet, fragment
Wire, fine
Pipe, with lead collar
Quantity
4
1
1
2
4
10
1
13
28
62
16
434
261
TABLE XXVI.— Structure 1 1 2— Continued
Area and Description of Artifacts
Cellar fill (1 foot below surface to floor, all rooms)
— Continued
Ceramics — Continued
Tobacco pipes — Continued
Bowls, white 1650-75 ( 1-EL)
Stems, brown:
8/64 ( 1 decorated)
9/64
10/64 ( 1 decorated)
Metal :
Iron:
Nails, assorted handwrought
Hook, with eyelet
Pintle
Hinges, strap, over 1 foot long
Hinges, strap, less than 1 foot long
Barrel-hoop fragments
Lead:
Came
Pieces, flat, indeterminate
Glass:
Window-quarrel fragments
Wine-bottle fragments
Mortar, samples from masonry
Plaster, samples
Slate, roofing, fragment
Whetstone, fragment, 3% inches long
Bone:
Canine
Cow
Cellar fill (surface to floor of cellar, all rooms)
Ceramic:
Bricks:
Local (see text)
Dutch
Tiles:
Flat, roofing
Floor, square, partial paving in place (see
Figure 15) beveled side 7% by 7% inches;
broad side 7% by 7% inches
Pantiles
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray
Earthenware:
Locally ( ?) made, unglazed
Locally made, lead-glazed
English lead-glazed:
Light
North Devon coarse tempered
Slipware (hand decorated)
(marbled)
Italian sgraffito
Delftware:
English-Dutch blue-on-white
Purple on white
English white
Burned-indeterminate
Fireplace or wall tile
Quantity
12l/2 lbs.
1
1
3
1
8
1
4
3
5
17
2
1
1
1
1
large quantity
1
16
30
2
1
16
132
3
1
1
1
1
10
1
22
10
1
Area and Description of Artifacts
Cellar fill (surface to floor of cellar) — Continued
Ceramic — Continued
Delftware — Continued
Majolica, Lisbon
Hispanic 2-handled jug
Porcelain, Oriental (including half a cup) ....
Tobacco pipes:
Stems, white:
6/64
7/64 ( 1 decorated )
8/64 ( 1 decorated)
9/64 ( 1 decorated)
Bowls, white:
Indeterminate
1650-75 (1-EL, 2 decorated)
Stems, brown:
7/64
8/64 (2 decorated)
9/64 ( 3 decorated, 2 marbled)
10/64
11/64
12/64
Bowls, brown:
Indeterminate
1750-75 ( 1 decorated)
Metal:
Iron:
Nails, handwrought
L-shaped (picture nails?)
Spikes
Staple, small
Pintle
Nut
Handles, furniture
Knife-blade fragment
Scissors
Strap iron:
Over 1 foot long
Less than 1 foot long
Strap-iron fragment, less than 1 foot long.
Strap-iron fragment, 2 inches long, 1 inch
wide, indeterminate
Strap-iron fragment, 4 inches long, 1 inch
wide
Hinge, garnet (T), fragment
Kettle fragment, cast-iron
Barrel-hoop fragments
Sheet-iron fragments
Drawer lock, fragment
Door lock, fragment
Ornamental iron with handle, 6 prongs and
one leg (trivet?)
Sliding-bolt fragment from lock
Large hook with twisted shank
Brass :
Ring or eyelet
Cylindrical fragment 2 inches long
Fragment — manufactured, indeterminate ....
Spur
262
TABLE XXVI.— Structure 772— Continued
Area and Description of Artifacts
Foundation area outside cellar — Continued
Metal — Continued
Lead:
Cames
Goose shot
Scrap, fragment
Pewter, fragment, indeterminate
Glass:
Window-quarrel fragments
Small mass of cames, plaster, and glass
Bottles:
Gin, fragments
Wine, fragments
Drinking-vessel fragments
Button
Indeterminate fragment
Flint:
Fragments (English)
Gunflint
Slate, roofing, pieces
Plaster:
Wall, lath marks on back, whitewash on front.
Pargetry, lion's head
Slag
Charcoal pieces, indeterminate
Quantity
Foundation area outside cellar (general, 1 foot be-
neath surface to undisturbed)
Ceramic:
Tiles:
Roofing, flat
Pantiles
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray
Earthenware:
Locally made, lead-glazed
English lead-glazed, dark
English slipware:
Combed
Marbled
Delftware:
English-Dutch blue-on-white
English white
English polychrome
Majolica, Lisbon blue- and purple-on-white.
Hispanic lead-glazed, two-handled jug
Tobacco pipes:
Stems, white:
Indeterminate
7/64
8/64
9/64
11/64
19
6
40
3
2
4
2
11
5
2
1
12
4
1
1
2
2
22
56
16
1
Area and Description of Artifacts
Foundation area outside cellar — Continued
Ceramic — Continued
Tobacco pipes — Continued
Bowls, white:
Indeterminate
1650-75
Stems, brown:
7/64
8/64 (4 decorated)
9/64 ( 1 decorated )
10/64 (2 decorated)
Metal :
Iron:
Nails, handwrought
Nails, handwrought, L-shaped (picture hooks?)
Spike (large head)
Pintles
Ring attached to bar
Hinge fragment, strap
Cannonball 8% lbs., solid
Knife-blade fragment
Object, use unknown
Brass:
Straight pins
Buckle
Ring or eyelet
Sheet fragment
Copper:
Sheath, rolled, with string inside, 1 inch long.
Wire, wrapped, to form braid ?
Lead:
Cames
Goose shot
Small bar, 1 inch long
Silver, hollow handle, rolled sheet, 1% inch
long, indeterminate
Glass:
Window quarrels
Bottles, gin
Bead, milky white
Slate, roofing
Flint, English, pieces
Plaster:
Lath-impressed
Chunks
Quantity
Area E (beneath tiles)
Tiles, roofing, flat
Tobacco pipes, stems, white, 9/64
Metal, iron, nails:
Handwrought
Hinge fragment
Brass, fragment, indeterminate .
Glass, bead, clear glass
1
1
3
21
8
7
171
8
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
29
1
1
1
1
1
29
18
1
23
6
1
10
3
2
9
1
1
1
1
1
1
263
TABLE XXVII.— Structure 115, Multiple House, Cellar 1
Artifacts
Ceramic:
Brick, local (all fill includes brick; see text)
Tiles, roofing, flat
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray
English white
Earthenware:
Local lead-glazed
Staffordshire, lead-glazed
Slipware (hand decorated)
Sgraffito
Lead-glazed: dark
light
North Devon coarse-tempered
19th-century, white, lead-glazed cup fragment
Delftware:
Blue-on-white (English-Dutch)
English white
English dark-blue on light-blue
Porcelain (Oriental )
Tobacco pipes:
Stems, white:
5/64
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
Bowls, white:
Indeterminate .
1650-75
1675-1700 plus
Stems, brown:
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
Bowls, brown:
Indeterminate .
1675-1700
Metal:
Iron:
Nails, handwrought .
Spikes, handwrought
Brush hook
Hoop
Hinge, strap
Strap iron
Buckle
Ring
Hoe
Surf.— 1'
17
12
5
76
l'-2'
3
11
60
2
r-y
3'-4'
1
4
16
7
10
4
3
11
2
129
1
35
45
36
7
1
7
(1-RT)
3
4
1
3
2
(Idee.)
6
75
264
TABLE XXVIL— Structure 115, Multiple House, Cellar 1— Continued
Artifacts
Metal — Continued
Copper:
Sheet, piece, indeterminate
Copper Coin: 29mm. by 2mm.; Date 1695; obverse Wm. Ill; reverse;
Britannia
Wire
piece
Scrap
Brass:
Bridle ornament
Straight pins . . .
Wire pieces . . .
Tacks
Lead:
Window cames
Seal
Glass:
Window quarrels, fragments
Bottles:
Gin, fragments
Wine, fragments
Tumbler fragments .
Beads, clear
Medicine vial
Wine-glass fragments
Slate, roofing
Plaster:
Plain
Plain, whitewashed
Lath-marked, whitewashed
Pargetry
Bones:
Deer (or sheep?)
Cow
Boar tusk
Dog
Game bird, indeterminate . . . .
Large mammal, indeterminate .
Small mammal, indeterminate
Surf.— 1'
11
28
69
l'-2'
26
4
40
2'-3'
58
28
53
(2 bottles
3rd Q. ;
l-4thQ.)
13
1
3'-4'
1
25
95
20
1
319
25
4'-5'
20
(1-2 in.)
1
13
38
55
265
TABLE XXVIII.— Structure 115, Multiple House, Cellar 2
Artifacts
Ceramic:
Brick:
Local (all fill includes brick; see text for measurements)
Dutch
Tiles, roofing, flat
Crucible, fragment, with molten glass
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
German gray
German purple-on-gray
Earthenware:
Local, lead-glazed
English lead-glazed, dark
English lead-glazed, light
North Devon coarse-tempered
Hand-decorated Staffordshire
Sgraffito
Delftware:
Blue-on- white (Eng. -Dutch)
English light blue
English white
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
5/64
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
White bowls:
Indeterminate . . .
1650-75
1675-1700 plus
Brown stems:
7/64
8/64
Metal:
Iron:
Nails, handwrought . . .
Spikes, handwrought . .
Buckle
Chain
Table-knife fragment . . .
Hasp
Cannonball (hollow)
Barrel -hoop fragment .
Brass:
Spoon handle, trifid
Candle-snuffer fragment
Book-clasp fragment . . .
Copper, sheet fragment . . .
Lead, came
Surface — 2'
16
1
24
45
(FandLE)
(3 decorated)
20
(3 decorated)
4
5
1
3
( 1 decorated)
42
1
l'-2'
2'-4'
30
9
30
23
10
80
1
4
19
266
TABLE XXVIII.— Structure 115, Multiple House, Cellar 2— Continued
Artifacts
Glass:
Window-quarrel fragments
Wine bottle fragments . . .
Wineglass fragments
Large jar, square
Base, square, from jar
Slate, roofing
Plaster:
Plai
ain
Lath-marked
Pargetry . . .
Cornice molding
Surface— 2'
10
63
l'-2'
5
16
2'-4'
31
81
(1680-1700)
2
1
1
10
4
2
14
3'-5'
4
72
(1680-1700)
267
TABLE XXIX. — Structure 115, Foundation area west
of cellars — Units A, B, and C
Artifacts
Ceramic:
Tiles, roofing:
Flat
Flat, with glaze marks
Pantiles
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray
German gray
English white
Earthenware:
Unglazed coiled bottleneck
Local, lead-glazed
English sgraffito
Italian sgraffito
English lead-glazed:
Dark
Light
North Devon coarse tempered . . . .
English Staffordshire, 19th century
American ironstone, 19th century .
Delftware:
English-Dutch blue-on-white . . .
English white
English polychrome
Majolica, Spanish
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
5/64
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
White bowls:
Indeterminate
1650-75
1675-1700+
Brown stems:
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
11/64
12/64
Brown bowls, indeterminate
Porcelain (Oriental)
Surface to
undisturbed
10
1
13
1
1
3
18
2
1
6
17
5
3
1
1
27
39
19
(1-dec.)
4
1
2
1
3
5
28
(1-dec.)
12
(2-dec.)
3
1
2
3
0.8 ft. to
undisturbed
9
4
(1-dec.)
15
(1-dec.)
1
3
1
8
(4-dec.)
14
(3-dec.)
1
1
1
Artifacts
Metal:
Iron:
Nails:
Handwrought
Machine-cut
Pintles
Bolt, pointed, threaded, square head,
14 mm
Hook, large
Spikes, handwrought
Spike, machine-cut
Shackle
Punch fragment
Hinge fragment
Sliding bolt to door lock
Spades (blade portion)
Rings
Handle
Knife-blade fragments
Shaped bar, small, indeterminate . . .
Objects, use unknown
Copper, sheet fragment
Brass:
Buckle
Button (undecorated)
Stud
Lead:
Window cames .
Scrap, flat pieces
Surface to
undisturbed
Glass:
Window quarrel, fragments
Bottles:
Gin, fragment
Wine, fragments
Jar base, square
Bottle, indeterminate, fire-melted frag-
ments
Milk glass, modern 19th century
Slate, roofing
Plaster, cornice molding
131
10
27
1
25
4
1
15
268
TABLE XXX.— Structure 116
Artifacts
Ceramic:
Brick, local (see text)
Tiles:
Roofing, flat
Pantiles
Floor
Salt-glazed stoneware:
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray
Earthenware:
Local, lead-glazed
English lead-glazed, light
Modern (19th century?) lead-glazed
Italian sgraffito
Delftware:
Blue-on-white, English-Dutch ....
English white
Lisbon majolica (early 17th century)
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
5/64
6/64
7/64
8/64
10/64
Surface to structure
or 1.5'
1
5
10
4
( 1-LE— bowl heel
looks last quarter
17th C.)
2
Artifacts
Ceramic — Continued
Earthenware — Continued
Tobacco pipes — Continued
Brown stems:
7/64
8/64
Porcelain:
Oriental
18th century English
Metal :
Iron:
Nails, handwrought, 1" to 3"
Pin (steel? modern?)
Glass:
Bottles:
Gin
Wine:
1650-75
1675-1700 plus
19th century
Stone:
Bead, agate
Indian projectile point, quartzite stemmed
Roofing slate
Surface to structure
or 1.5'
20
1
(2' west of Burial 1)
4
269
TABLE XXXI. — Structure 117, Brick Foundation with Interior Buttresses
Artifacts
Large Room
Surface to
0.5' above floor
0.5' above floor
to floor
Northwest Annex
Surface to 2'
0.5' above floor
to floor
Beneath
planking
Ceramic:
Bricks (see text)
Tiles, roofing:
Flat
Pantiles
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray .
German gray
Earthenware:
Burned beyond indentifkation
Locally made ( ?) unglazed .
Locally made, lead-glazed
English lead-glazed:
Dark
Light
North Devon coarse-tempered
English slipware, undecorated
Italian sgraffito
Delftware:
Blue/white, Eng. -Dutch . . .
Eng. white
Purple/white
Wall/fireplace tile
Burnt, indeterminate
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
White bowls:
Indeterminate
1625-1650 . .
1650-1675 . .
1675-1700 . .
Brown stems:
8/64
9/64
10/64
Brown bowls, indeterminate
Porcelain (Oriental)
12
( 1 has mortar
on one side)
9
(2 have plaster
on one side)
9
(some plaster
traces)
9
1
1
2
4
12
21
1
(?)
Whole pot
found ca. 1900
by
Louise Barney
8
7
7
11
3
1
2
16
1
24
8
(2 -dec.)
6
2
( 1-dec. and
modeled)
1
1
1
(1-dec.)
5
(1-dec.)
1
(mortar both
sides )
1
(mortar traces)
1
1
3
(1-dec.)
270
TABLE XXXI. — Structure 117, Brick Foundation with Interior Buttresses — Continued
Artifacts
Large Room
Surface to
0.5' above floor
0.5' above floor
to floor
Northwest Annex
Surface to 2'
0.5' above floor
to floor
Beneath
planking
Metal :
Iron:
Nails, handwrought
Spikes, handwrought
Pintle
Barrel-hoop fragment
Gutter support (?)
Buckle
Hinges, strap, fragments
Handle (from kettle)
Bar iron
Chunk of fused iron
Pieces, use unknown
Copper:
Sheet, piece, indeterminate
Washer
Brass, tack, mushroom (upholstery)
Pewter, spoon bowl fragment ....
Glass:
Window quarrel fragments
Bottle, wine, fragments . . .
Jar, square base
Slate, roofing
Flint, English, pieces
Plaster:
Plain
Plain-whitewashed .
Mortar, sample (oystershell-sand)
34
4
3
67
1
7
1
2
3
40
2
54
1
2
271
TABLE XXXII.— Structure 119
Artifacts
Ceramic:
Brick:
Local
Dutch
Tiles, pantiles
Earthenware:
Locally-made: Unglazed
Lead-glazed*
Hispanic olla (amphora)
Delftware:
Blue/white, English-Dutch
English white
English polychrome
Wall/fireplace tile
English creamware, early 19th century
Tobacco pipes:
Stems, white:
6/64
7/64
8/64
Bowls, white:
1675-1700
Indeterminate
Stems, brown:
8/64
9/64
Bowls, brown, est. 1650-75
Porcelain (Oriental)
Metals:
Iron:
Nails:
Cut(?)
Handwrought
Knifeblade fragment
Spike
Chisel (?)
Copper, coin, indeterminate
Lead:
Bale seal, stamped 104 ■ ■
Musket ball, 20V2 mm. . .
Glass:
Window
Bottles:
Gin
Wine
Drinking vessels
Slate, roofing
Surface — 1'
l'-2'
r to top
of bricks
Pit in front
of firebox
Present in all locations, sparsely — not measured.
1
12
1
chafing dish?
15
1
5
1
5
14
2
2
14
1
1
17
11
4
8
1
1
10
1
7
1 ?
(base of ves.)
4
*Note: Waster pot J-7598 found in W-5, 80' NW
272
TABLE XXXUL—Structure 123
General
Surface — 4'
1-3.5'
Lower fill
Artifacts
Zone A
Zone B
(on floor)
Floor Recess
Ceramic:
Brick, local (see text)
Tiles flat .
1
2
1
1
4
2
2
1
6
25
11
1
2
1
(possibly 3rd
quarter)
10
1
2
4
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
1
1
1
German blue-on-gray
German gray
1
1
1
4
2
2
4
Earthenware:
Indeterminate — badly burned
English lead-glazed:
Dark
Light
North Devon, coarse-tempered
6
3
Staffordshire, lead-glazed
1
English slipware
English ironware, lead-glazed, 19th century
Delftware:
Blue-on-white, English-Dutch
English white
1
1
1
1
2
3
34
7
10
(1-dec.)
1
8
4
English blue- and purple-on-white
Indeterminate
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
5/64
6/64
15
7
1
7/64
8/64
9/64
1
White bowls:
Indeterminate
1625-50
1
1675-1700 plus
2
1
1
1
9
Brown stems:
8/64
9/64
Metal:
Iron:
Nails, handwrought ....
Spike, handwrought
Wrench with threaded shank . . .
1
Barrel hoops
Scythe-blade fragments
1
Brush hook
Fragments
2
1
6
1
"H" hinge
1
1
1
Pintle
Pieces, use unknown
1
1
Fireplace tool handle fragment .
1
Copper, French coin, Louis XV 1772
273
TABLE XXXIII.— Structure 723— Continued
Artifacts
Lead:
Goose shots
Sheet, small piece .
Piece, indeterminate
Glass:
Window quarrels, pieces
Bottle, wine, pieces
Slate, roofing
Flint, English, piece
Plaster, plain
General
Surface — 4'
1
50
( 1 neck 3rd Q.,
17th cent.)
l'-35'
4
151
(2 necks 3rd Q.
2— 4th Q,
17th cent.)
1
Lower fill
Zone A
48
Zone B
(on floor)
103
(7— 3rdQ.;
2 — are 4th Q.,
17th cent.)
Floor Recess
35
(2— IstQ.,
18th cent.)
274
TABLE XXXIV.— Structure 125, Brick Residence
Artifacts
Ceramic:
Bricks, locally-made (see text)
Tiles, roofing, flat
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
Indeterminate
German brown-mottled
Blue-on-gray
Purple- and blue-on-gray
Earthenware:
Indian, plain, shell-tempered
Unglazed (local?)
English lead-glazed:
Dark
Light
Lead-glazed, indeterminate
Delftware:
Blue-on-white, English-Dutch .
Purple-on-white, English-Dutch
White, English or Dutch
Majolica, Hispanic
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
5/64
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
White bowls:
1675-1700 plus
1700-25
Brown stems:
7/64
8/64
9/64
Brown bowls:
1675-1700 plus
Porcelain, Oriental, blue-on-white
Metal:
Iron:
Nails:
Machine-cut
Handwrought
Spikes
Pintle
Pin, eyed, large
Nut and bolt
Bolt, L-shaped, with nut and 3 washers
Bolt, complete
Eye bolt
Fragment
Hook fragment
Eye hook
Pot hook
Hook, hinged
Above whole
structure:
Surface — 2.3'
19
120
Cellar area fill
l'-4'
(2 with mortar)
10
1
5
9
12
8
3
18
Upper fill of well
4.1 '-6'
29
3
Well floor deposit
6'-7.1'
1
2
3
(1-dec.)
275
TABLE XXXIV.— Structure 125, Brick Residence— Continued
Artifacts
Above whole
structure:
Surface — 2.3'
Cellar area fill
l'-4'
Upper fill of wel
4.1'-6'
Well floor deposit
6-7.1'
Metal — Continued
Iron — Continued
Staple, large
Hasp
Pickax
Chain with hook at end
Chain
Hoe fragment
Pitchfork fragment
Bridle-bit fragments
Iron buckle
Tube, 6/10" diam., fragments
Bar iron
Curry-comb fragment
Washer
Ring
Object, unknown use
Copper, sheet fragment
Brass:
Plain button
Spoon handle (trifid)
Casting-counter fragment . . . .
Lead, window came
Glass:
Window quarrel, fragments . ,
Bottles:
Gin, fragment
Wine (all ca. 1660-1710)
Wine, melted
Molded, 18th century ....
Seals
Drinking vessel, goblet, fragments
Bases to wine glasses
Slate, roofing, fragments
Mortar, samples
Plaster, smooth, y4 to l/2 inch thick:
Whitewashed
Lath-impressed
Bones: mammal, large, indeterminate
Coal, lump
12
45
2
1
1
63
2
2
2
22
2
108
1
(AA)
85
1
(FN)
3
(hobnail design
in relief)
276
TABLE XXXV.— Structure 127— Brick Kiln
Artifacts
Ceramic:
Bricks:
Local (see text)
Dutch
Tiles, roofing:
Flat
Pantiles . . .
Potter/:
Stoneware:
German brown-mottled
Blue-on-gray
Earthenware:
Local, lead-glazed
English, lead-glazed, dark . . .
North Devon coarse-tempered
Local (?) slipware
English slipware, marbled . . .
Italian sgraffito
Delftware:
Blue-on-white
English-Dutch
Italian majolica
Indian, plain, shell-tempered
bowl fragment
l'to 3'
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
7/64
8/64 ....
9/64
White bowls:
1600-1625
1625-50 .
(1 — graybeard)
2
120
6
1
1
10
1.5' above to
bottom of kiln
7
22
(1-PG; Idee.)
8
(Idee.)
1
1
(8/64)
30
1
(8/64)
Artifacts
Ceramic — Continued
Tobacco pipes — Continued
Brown stems:
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
All handmade, possibly fired
in brick kiln.
12/64
14/64
Brown bowls, 1600-50?
Metal:
Iron:
Nails, handwrought
Strap fragments
Strike-a-light?
Copper, fragment of tubing (?)
Glass:
Window
Bottles, gin
Bone:
Cow
Small mammal, indeterminate ....
Wolf (?)
Sheep (?)
Plaster, lath-marked
Stone:
Button, possibly chert?
Indian projectile point or knife
(quartzite)
Coal
1' to 3'
2
11
21
(1 dec.)
16
7
(Idee.)
10
( 1 stippled)
(4 dec; 1-BR;
2,8-sided)
32
2
1
3
160
10
1.5' to bottom
of kiln
1
4
(Idee.)
4
(8-sided, 9/64)
25
(1 part bottle)
2
1
277
TABLE XXXVI.— Structure 128, Ice Pit
Artifacts
Zones
D
D, E, F mixed
Ceramic:
Bricks:
Local (see text for measurements)
"Dutch"
Water table brick, local
Tiles:
Roofing, flat . . .
Floor (see text)
Pantiles
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray . .
English "Tiger Ware'
Earthenware:
Locally-made, unglazed . .
Locally-made, lead-glazed
English lead-glazed, light
English hard-fired, dark brown
English hard-fired, gray-brown
Slipware, locally-made (?) ...
Slipware, English
English small crucible
Pottery bead
Delftware:
Blue/white, English-Dutch .
English white
Polychrome, English
Manganese-spotted, English . . .
Spanish majolica
Olla or amphora, Spanish (?) .
Jug, 2-handled, lead-glazed, His-
panic
Indian pottery fragment, fabric im-
print
( 1 glazed)
23
1
20
3
35
7
77
1
1
9
17
32
4
( LM ; liaum )
2
1
112
( 1 chafing
dish)
1
12
( 1 fluted
bowl)
1
1
3
13
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
19
( 1 dec.
fl.-de-l.)
167
(3 dec.)
32
3
26
254
(2 dec, WC)
70
(1-WC)
1
32
( 1 mug ;
1 bowl )
2
1
26
(Lambeth
delft)
2
10
115
38
21
( 1 bowl ;
ljar)
3
10
(fl.-de-l.)
98
( 1— fl.-de-L
WC)
18
(1 handle)
39
(1-R)
12
20
(1-RC)
1
(dec.)
29
278
TABLE XXXVI.— Structure 128, Ice Pit— Continued
Artifacts
Ceramic — Continued
Tobacco pipes — Continued
White bowls:
Indeterminate
1625-50
1650-75
1675-1700
Brown stems:
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
12/64
Brown bowls, indeterminate
Metal :
Iron:
Nails, handwrought
Spikes, handwrought
Picture hooks
Pintle
"Holdfast" clamp fragments
Drawing knife
Cannon muzzle
Matchlock lock plate
Scutcheon plates
Post guard plate
Sword carrier
Scythe blades
Sword blades
Crosscut saw
Saw wrest
Chopping blade, large . .
Lock spring
Padlock
Ball-shaped lock
Sliding bar from lock . .
Staples
Draw pull (handle) . . .
Hinges, strap, fragments
Hinge, "H"
Bolt
Rings
Collar
Kettle fragment
Pothook
Gutter support
Fishhook
Zones
1
4
30
(7-EL, 4-WC,
2-IH, 2-RC,
BC, HF, Rose)
288
10
(1-L-
shaped)
1
16
7
(1-BC)
34
(6-EL, 4-WC,
1-RC)
11
( 1-WC)
6
(Idee. BC)
33
(4-WC, 1-IH)
2
1
3
2
1
2
2
(Idee.)
661
(2-L-
shaped )
6
246
(73— L-
shaped)
2
D
(2-BC)
10
( 1-FS, 1-WC,
1-RR)
52
D, E, F mixed
3
(1-BC)
1
4
1
(1-IH)
59
41
279
TABLE XXXVI.— Structure 128, Ice Pit— Continued
Artifacts
Metal — Continued
Iron — Continued
Trowel (?)
Spade blade
Wedge
Knife-blade fragments
Spoon handle (?)
Hoes
Adz hammer
Key
Barrel-hoop fragments
Bar iron
Wire
Sheet fragments
Gouge
Objects (pieces), use unknown
Buckle
Copper:
Tack
Tack heads
Sheet fragments
Brass:
Ring or eyelet
Tack
Lead:
Came fragments
Sheet fragments
Fragments, use unknown
Lump
Glass:
Window quarrels, fragments
Bottles, gin, fragments
Drinking vessels
Venetian tazza, fragments .
Retort flask, neck
Case bottle with lead neck
Handle
Bone:
Worked:
Handle
Bead, perforated
Deer
Cow
Horse
P'g
Dog
Sheep (?)
Wolf (?)
Large bird (turkey?)
Large mammal, indeterminate
Small mammal, indeterminate
Bird, indeterminate
Zones
3
5
3
15
2
1
3
123
28
1
1
96
2
4
4
1,418
( 1 scored)
243
1
(wine glass)
1
15
3
D
D, E, F mixed
(perforated)
Slate, roofing
10
102
1
1
1
2
1
104
2
18
1
4
1
2
69
4
15
4
1
1
10
11
13
30
14
7
11
280
TABLE XXXVI.— Structure 128, Ice Pit— Continued
Zones
Artifacts
A
B
C
D
E
F
D, E, F mixed
Flint English pieces
6
15
3
1
1
2
1
2
2
4
1
1
1
1
Plaster:
Plain
Lath-marked
Stone bowl carved
2
Charcoal
1
Coal
Coral, fossil
281
TABLE XXXVII.— Wells 7 and 11
Type
Ceramic:
Brick, local (see text)
Tile fragment
Salt-glazed stoneware:
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray
English, 18th century
Earthenware:
Local, lead-glazed
Coarse-tempered, North Devon
Teacup — imitation porcelain (Dutch — early 18th century)
Delftware:
Blue/white, English-Dutch
Bleeding bowl, Lambeth, early 17th century
Bleeding bowl, Lambeth, 17th-18th century .
English white
Wall or fireplace tile
Lisbon majolica, blue and purple
Tobacco pipes:
White stems:
5/64
6/64
7/64
8/64
White bowls:
1675-1720
Porcelain: Oriental
Glass:
Bottle, wine, 1675-1700
Vial
Goblet fragment
Well 11
1
(WW)
Well 7
(4-6')
11
(11"-12")
(7'-8')
22
1
(7"-8")
1
(4'-6')
31
4
12
7
4
1
(J-7578)
1
(J-7169)
7'-8'
1
(old Cat.
No. 5615)
Well 7
vicinity
13
282
TABLE XXXVIII.— Refuse Pit 1
Artifacts
local
Ceramic:
Bricks,
Tiles:
Roofing, flat
Bats with glaze
Floor
Pantiles
Stoneware, salt-glazed:
German brown-mottled
German blue-on-gray .
English
Earthenware:
General, indeterminate
Locally-made (?), unglazed
Locally-made, lead-glazed .
English lead-glazed:
Dark
Light
English sgraffito
Delftware:
Blue-on-white (E-D)
English white
English polychrome .
English purple-on-white . .
Dutch wall or fireplace tile
Tobacco pipes:
Stems, white:
6/64
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
Bowls, white:
Indeterminate
1600-1625 . .
1625-1650
1650-1675
Stems, brown:
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
12/64
Zone A
few fragments
6
4
16
3
63
( 1 — chafing dish
fragment)
3
3
1
4
56
15
14/64
(EL, RG)
Zone B
many fragments
93
2
2
25
32
10
(1 jar with medallions)
V8
1141
(2 sherds are wasters,
glazed over fracture)
18
5
( 1 — chafing dish
fragment)
156
14
2
(fragment of drug jar
7" high)
1
2
2
25
(2 dec.)
160
(7 dec.)
55
(Idee.)
2
7
1
(Rose)
21
(WC, FS, IP, Rose)
23
(2-WC, RG, SV, P, HI,
EL, SH, 2-Gauntlet, Star)
2
55
13
13
11
(Idee.)
2
Zone C
81
1
20
2
1
8
267
2
34
15
283
TABLE XXXVIII.— Refuse Pit I— Continued
Artifacts
Ceramic — Continued
Tobacco pipes — Continued
Stems, brown — Continued
16/64
Bowls, brown, indeterminate
Porcelain (Oriental) blue-on-white
Metal:
Iron:
Nails:
Handwrought
Cut
Tack:
Wrought
Small — possibly modern
Spikes, handwrought
Lock fragment
Spring or clamp, indeterminate
Handle:
Furniture
Use unknown
Saw
Ax, type unknown
Kettle leg
Strap iron
Bar iron, use unknown
Barrel hoop fragment
Mold for shot and ball
Hoe
Pole arm collar fragment (?)
Spade blades
Large blade fragment
Scythe blade
Chain links (2)
Sliding bolt to lock
Spur fragment
Auger or gouge fragments
Bolt strap
Bar iron
Scribe (?)
Window casement fragment
Keyhole escutcheon plate
Sheet fragments, unidentified
Iron fragments, indeterminate
Wire, modern
Sheet, indeterminate
Cuirass, breastplate, and backplate (J-7042 and J-7043)
Swept hilt rapier (J-7010)
Rapier guard
Basket hilt of sword
Cutlass (J-9721)
Musket barrel (J-9458)
Knife blade
Washer
Gouge
Bullet mold (J-8381)
Axes, felling, narrow
Zone A
60
2
Zone B
Zone C
Hinge, strap
H-Hinge . .
1
5
(Idee.)
2
259
57
4
1 set
1
1
2
1
1
(1 with wedge)
4
1
284
TABLE XXXVIII.— Refuse Pit 1— Continued
Artifacts
Metal — Continued
Iron — Continued
Hinge, indeterminate
Silver, thimble (J-8776)
Copper:
Strap fragment
Sheet fragments
Scrap fragments
Tubing, small
Brass :
Straight pins
Collar for holding ramrod to musket
Square weight, small, "Carlus Rex" (J-7041)
Buckle
Tacks
Round plate, furniture ornament
Button or tack head
Picture frame wire, 6"
Use unknown, fragment
Pewter, fragment, indeterminate
Lead, goose shot
Musket balls
Sheet fragments
Cames for window casements
Bale seals
Pipe, molded
Glass:
Window (mostly diamond-shaped)
Bottle fragments:
Gin
Wine
Drinking vessels
Beaker fragments
Vial, small
Beads, cylindrical
Slate:
Roofing
Ground, use unkown
English flint:
Pieces of nodules
Gunflint
Limestone* pieces
Lime*, calcined and slaked (oyster shell)
Coral, chunk
Granite stone fragments with glass glaze, one part of a stone from Glasshouse.
Coal, bituminous, pieces
String, braided, possible wick, impregnated with copper salts
Bone:
Horse
Deer
Cow
Bear
Pig
Large mammal, indeterminate
Small mammal, indeterminate
Zone A
57
13
1
( 1 in. long)
2
18
1
6
Zone B
1
2
1
1
1
1
(strip of shots)
2
5
13
2
(1 — "12" stamped)
205
377
17
2
Zone C
44
3
29
4
1 sample
1
1
6
35
1
1
6
1
1
5
55
1
15
* Harrington, J. C. (Glasshouse) concluded no local source of lime was available; hence lime for glassmaking was imported. This may be iron-
making charge.
285
TABLE XXXIX.— Lot 47 (97:101) Including Ditch 28, Ditch 29, Structure 22
Type
Lot:
General
Ditch 28:
Surface — 1!
Ditch 29:
Surface— 18"
Ceramic:
Brick:
Local (see text)
Dutch
Tiles:
Roofing, flat
Floor
Pantiles
Earthenware, bleeding bowl, Lambeth, delft, early 17th century
Pipes:
White stems:
6/64
7/64
8/64
White bowls:
1600-25 . .
1650-75 . .
1675-1700
Brown stems:
7/64
8/64
9/64
10/64
Metal:
Iron, nails, and several spikes, all handwrought
Present
34
2
18
(Idee.)
31
18
2
75
1
(J-7504)
3
9
14
(3 dec.)
3
(1-KC)
3
(1-LV)
286
Index
Abbott, Stanley W. — vi.
Aborigines — 6-8, 162. See also Indian artifacts; Indians; Pottery.
Adz. See Tools.
Agate: bead — 130.
knife handle or pendant fragment — 157.
See also Artifact tables.
Agate ware. See Earthenware.
Aitken, M. J.— 166.
Albarellos. See Jars.
"Algonkin" (cranial) type — 216.
Algonquians — 6, 7, 162, 163, 213.
Ambler family graves — 223.
Ambler House— (complex) 28-31, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76, 80, 91, 94, 95,
140, 151, 166, 188.
Ambler papers— 51, 57, 75, 150, 166.
Amphora. See Jugs.
Andiron. See Iron.
"Apothecary jars." See Jars: drug.
APVA. See Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
(APVA).
APVA Yearbook— 219-225.
Arber, Edward — 106.
Archer's Hope — 31.
Architectural details, summary: Structure 110 — 109.
Structure 112—119-121.
Structure 115—128-129.
Structure 117—134-135.
Structure 123—140.
Structure 125—142, 144, 145.
Argall, Samuel — 18.
Armistead, Miss (Travis family)— 94.
Armor: abandonment of heavy — 163.
backplate and breastplate — 151.
light-armor fragments — 112.
See also Artifact tables.
Armstrong, Alfred — 205.
Artifacts, location of: churchyard burials — 23.
Confederate occupation — 16.
Ludwell-Statehouse group — 26-27.
Neck of Land— 31-32.
Pott and Knowles tract — 25.
underwater search — 16-17.
See also Artifact tables; Ditches; Indian artifacts;
Refuse pits; Structures; Wells.
Artifact tables: Ditch 5 — 248-249.
Ditches 17 and 18 — 237-238.
Ditches 28 and 29—286.
Refuse Pit 1—283-285.
Structure 17—233-235.
Structure 18—236.
Structure 19—237-238.
Structure 21—239-240.
Structure 22 — 286.
Structure 26 — 244-245.
Artifact tables (continued)
Structure 27—246-247.
Structure 28—246-247.
Structure 31—241-242.
Structure 33—248-249.
Structure 40—250-251.
Structure 41—254-255.
Structure 45— 252-253.
Structure 49 — 243.
Structure 53—252-253.
Structure 55—243.
Structure 65— 252-253.
Structure 67—246-247.
Structure 71—254-255.
Structure 72—250-251.
Structure 74—254-255.
Structure 77—254-255.
Structure 100—256.
Structure 106 — 256.
Structure 110—257.
Structure 111—258-259.
Structure 112—260-263.
Structure 116—264-268.
Structure 117—270-271.
Structure 119 — 272.
Structure 123—273-274.
Structure 125—275-276.
Structure 127—277.
Structure 128—278-281.
Well 4—237-238.
Well 7—282.
Well 11—237-238, 282.
Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) — v, 1,
2, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 26, 27, 65, 98, 152, 173, 177.
Auborne, Richard — 128.
Augers. See Tools.
Axes. See Tools.
Ayers, Arthur L. — 65, 98.
Bachelor, William— 116.
Backplate. See Armor.
Back River— 31, 32.
"Back Streete"— 25, 128, 151, 164, 166.
Bacon, Nathaniel, Sr. ("The Elder" or "President")— 50, 57, 96, 127,
128.
Bacon's Castle — 54.
Bacon's Rebellion— 22, 25, 26, 27, 57, 70, 75, 119, 128, 150, 152, 161,
162, 222.
Bagby, Mrs. Parke C— 219, 220, 222, 223, 225.
Bailey, Worth— 88, 89, 90.
Bakery. See Industries.
Baking dish. See Cooking utensils: earthenware.
Bale clips or seals. See Seals.
Banks, Gerard — 6.
287
Barn — 31, 136. See also Churches.
Barney, Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. — 1, 6, 24, 46, 140.
Barney, Louise — 133.
Barnstaple. See Sgraffito.
Barrel hoops. See Iron.
Barrels— 153, 193. See also Wells.
Bartman or bartmann jug. See Jugs.
Basin. See Pewter.
Beads— 7, 23, 102, 105, 106, 116, 130, 157. See also Artifact tables.
Beans— 163, 229.
Bear, black— 10, 231.
Bellarmine. See Jugs.
Bells— 7.
Bennett, Richard — 50.
Bentzen, Conrad B.— 24, 94, 95, 98.
Berkeley, Lady Frances (grave) — 225.
Berkeley, William— 50, 116, 201.
Berries— 163, 229.
Beverly, Robert — 57, 96.
Bins— 43.
Birds— 8, 231.
Bison, eastern — 10, 231.
Bits. See Horse gear; Tools.
Black Point— 3.
Blair, Rev. James ("Commissary") — 222.
Bland, Theoderic— 50.
"Bleeding bowls." See Bowls.
Bog iron. See Iron: ore.
Bolt. See Hardware: lock bolt.
Bombshells. See Cannon.
Bond, masonry: English— 31, 34, 35, 40, 42, 43, 49, 53, 55, 60, 64,
67, 80, 82, 83, 86, 92, 93, 94, 102, 106, 109,
115, 119, 120, 128, 129, 131, 134, 137, 140,
142, 144, 155.
Flemish— 37, 115, 120, 129, 131, 134.
Bone handles — 189-
Bones: covered with blue paint — 70, 156.
cow— 23, 127, 130, 148, 151, 157, 158.
deer— 127, 148, 157.
dog— 157.
game birds — 127, 158.
garbage— 127, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158.
horse — 148.
human— 23, 24, 116, 127, 154, 157, 221, 223, 224, 225.
mammal: indeterminate — 110.
small— 157, 159.
pig— 148.
pigeon (or quail) — 158.
sheep — 148.
turkey— 148, 157, 158.
See also Burials ; Skeletons.
Bosses. See Horse gear.
Bottles — 32, 186, 187. See also Artifact tables; Gin bottles; Wine bot-
tles.
Bottle seals. See Seals.
Bowls: "bleeding"— 208, 282, 286.
delftware— 92, 152, 184, 207.
earthenware — 179, 203-
majolica — 152, 184.
See also Artifact tables ; Dishes ; Porringers.
Boxfish — 8.
Brand or branding iron. See Horse gear; Iron: stamp.
Brass: bosses — 176.
candle snuffers — 75, 79, 80.
Brass {continued)
candlestick fragments — 36, 79.
casting counters — 13, 141, 191.
chafing dish — 79.
coin — 223.
clasp — 85.
clock wheel — 79.
escutcheon plate — 190.
furniture hardware (illus.) — 190.
hasp — 85.
knobs — 190.
lockplate — 92.
locks — 190.
pan — 7.
pot leg — 93.
pulls— 71, 190.
ring or grommet — 79.
runlets — 11.
skillet — 79.
spigot — 79, 192.
spur — 79.
tombstone bolts, tablet, tacks — 222, 223.
turncocks — 71, 192.
vessel handle — 93.
weight — 150.
wire— 71, 93.
See also Artifact tables; Buckles; Buttons; Pins; Spoons; Tacks;
Thimbles; Wire.
Breastplate. See Armor.
Brewery or brewhouse. See Industries.
Bricks: Ambler House— 28, 70.
church— 18-21.
earliest structural use — 164.
Elizabethan statute size — 35.
Ludwell-Statehouse group — 26.
Neck of Land — 31.
types (illus.) — 171.
See also Artifact tables; Bond, masonry; Drains, brick; Dutch
brick; Structures; Wells.
"Bridge, brick"— 150, 166.
Bristol. See Delftware.
British Museum — 116.
Broadsword. See Swords.
Bronze: grommet — 155.
letters — 223.
pins— 2 3, 155.
See also Artifact tables; Thimbles.
Brown, Alexander — 23, 221.
Bruce, Philip A.— 8, 23, 24, 163, 229, 232.
Buckles: brass— 45, 71, 79, 93, 190.
iron— 45, 82, 92.
See also Artifact tables.
Building hardware. See Hardware.
Bullet mold— 177.
Burials: bundle— 23, 130, 131.
chancel— 220-221.
churchyard— 22-24, 221, 223, 224, 225.
ditches— 23, 24.
garden — 24.
Indian— 23, 24, 130, 213-216.
scattered — 23, 24.
Structure 112 — 116.
third ridge cemetery — 23, 24.
Travis graveyard — 23, 94.
288
Burning. See Fire, destruction by.
Buttons: brass— 57, 79, 80, 86, 93, 116, 190.
glass — 263.
silver — 57.
See also Artifact tables.
Calmes or cames. See Lead.
Candle snuffers. See Brass.
Candlesticks: brass — 36, 79.
copper — 26.
delft— 156.
lead or pewter — 224.
sgraffito — 182.
See also Artifact tables.
Cannibalism — 23.
Cannon: balls — 13, 25, 116.
bombshells — 26, 27.
muzzle (from light cannon or robinet) — 148.
See also Artifact tables.
Carbon 14 date — 15.
Carey, Miles — 51.
Caribbean Islands (Indian slaves) — 166.
Carmichael, Leonard — vi.
Casements. See Iron.
Casing. See Wells.
Cassinett, Arnold — 128.
Casting counters. See Brass.
Caywood, Louis R. — 23, 28.
CCC. See Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
Celery, wild— 8, 231.
Cellars— 25, 26, 28, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 44, 46, 47, 49, 51, 53, 54,
55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 64, 75, 76, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 98, 100, 112, 114,
115, 116, 117, 121, 123, 127, 129, 133, 137, 139, 140, 142, 144, 154.
See also Wine cellars.
Cemeteries: churchyard— 22-24, 163, 219, 220, 221.
summary of — 165.
third ridge— 23, 24, 28, 165.
Travis graveyard — 23, 94.
Ceramics: decoration — 203, 204, 205, 206.
form— 203, 204.
glazes— 202, 203, 205.
pastes — 202, 203.
17th-century pottery types found at Jamestown — 205-206.
summary of — 201-212.
See also Artifact tables; Bowls; Bricks; Cups; Delftware;
Dutch brick; Earthenware; Faience; Jars; Jugs; Majolica;
Ovens; Pipes, tobacco; Pitchers; Porcelain; Pots; Pottery;
Sgraffito; Stoneware; Tiles.
Chafing dishes: brass — 79.
earthenware — 179, 203.
Chandler, J. E.— 56.
Chickahominy. See Pottery.
Childe, V. Gordon— 1.
Children: condition — 161.
toys and other evidence — 161.
Chiles, Walter— 75.
Chimneys— 36, 40, 43, 51, 58, 60, 68, 70, 72, 75, 78, 80, 82, 84,
85, 86, 92, 93, 109, 112, 115, 121, 127, 128, 130, 131, 139, 164,
166, 221.
China or chinaware. See Porcelain.
Chisels. See Tools.
Churches: barn — 17.
fifth— 22.
fort area (wooden) — 17.
Churches {continued)
fourth (first brick, 1639-47)— 19-22, 165, 220-221, 222, 224.
memorial (1907) — 18, 21.
sail (1607)— 17.
summary — 17-22, 165.
third (frame, 1617)— 18, 66, 165, 223.
Church Point— 3, 6, 13, 14, 63, 163, 165.
Church tower— 2, 3, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 159, 164, 219, 220, 221, 222.
Churchyard— 6, 19, (burials) 22, 51, 164, 165, (burials) 222.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)— v, 1, 4, 24, 53, 68, 86.
Clasp. See Brass.
Clinton, Edward — 11.
Clock wheel. See Brass.
Clough, John— 22, 219.
Coal— 89, 90, 110.
Cobblestones— 18, 65, 100, 102, 165, 220, 221, 222.
Coe, Joffre— 15.
Coffins— 23, 222, 223, 224, 225.
Coins— 44, 60, 127, 136, 137, 139, 144, 223, 224. See also Artifact
tables.
Colonial National Historical Park— v, 1, 2, 6, 11, 31, 47, 79, 96, 140,
147, 201.
Colonial Parkway — v, 1, 31, 32.
Colonial Williamsburg— 201.
Community life, development of — 164, 165.
Confederate Fort. See Forts.
Conservation at Jamestown — 1.
Cooking utensils: brass — 79.
earthenware— 179, 180, 203.
iron kettles— 15, 112, 117, 159-
See also Artifact tables.
Cooling pits — 83- See also Wine cellars.
Cope, E. D.— 216.
Copeland, Joseph — 189.
Copeland spoon — 59, 189.
Copper: button — 190.
candlestick — 26.
pin— 152.
pot lid— 57.
strips — 112.
tubing — 12.
wire — 116.
See also Artifact tables; Buckles; Coins.
Corn— 7, 8, 106, 162, 163, 229.
Cornice molding. See Plaster.
Corning Glass Research Institute — 102.
Cossina, Arnall — -128.
Cotter, Virginia T. — vi.
Cougar — 10, 232.
Counters, casting. See Brass.
"Country House"— 25, 27, 28, 73, 75, 76, 78, 79, 166, 180.
Country House-Ludwell House-Third and Fourth Statehouse group. See
Ludwell-Statehouse group.
Couper, Charles — 222.
Cow. See Bones.
Crabs— 8, 230.
Creamware. See Earthenware.
Cripplegate Building — 116.
Crucibles. See Pots.
Cups: delft— 36, 207.
earthenware — 179, 203.
oriental porcelain — 116, 208.
sgraffito — 182.
See also Artifact tables.
289
Currycombs. See Horse gear.
Cutlass. See Swords.
Cutlery: forks — 53, 189.
knives — 189.
See also Spoons.
Dale, Sir Thomas — 221.
Day, H. Summerfield— 51, 68, 76, 78.
Deer, Virginia or white-tailed — 8, 231. See also Bones: deer.
Delaware, Lord— 221, 223.
Delftware: blue-on-white— 52, 55, 59, 65, 67, 68, 85, 94, 96, 121, 147,
158.
Bristol— 73, 206.
chemical analysis- — 205.
Dutch— 25, 32, 36, 39, 41, 79, 123, 127, 131, 141, 148, 152,
206.
English— 25, 32, 39, 41, 52, 55, 63, 65, 67, 68, 79, 85, 117,
(polychrome) 123, 127, 131, 133, 148, 206.
Flanders — 206.
Lambeth— 63, 73, 92, 93, 148, 206.
Liverpool — 206.
London — 206.
purple-mottled — 152.
purple-on-white — 65.
Southwark — 206.
summary — 206-2 10.
types of vessels — 184, 207-208.
Wincanton — 206.
See also Artifact tables; Bowls; Candlesticks; Cups; Dishes;
Faience; Jars; Jugs; Majolica; Plates; Pots; Tiles.
Desandroiiins — 31, 42, 151. See also French military map.
Devonshire. See Earthenware.
Dimmick, Jesse- — 100.
Disease — 152-153, 165. See also Malaria; Osteomyelitis; Yellow fever.
Dishes: chafing — 79, 179, 203.
delftware — 156.
general — 208.
porringers — 52, 152, 207, 208.
saucers — 204.
wooden — 70, 156.
See also Artifact tables; Bowls; Cups; Jars; Pitchers; Plates.
Distillery. See Industries.
Ditches: D-l— 24, 28, 75, 81.
D-2— 24, 25, 68, 74, 176.
D-3— 68, 74.
D-4— 68, 137.
D-5— 68, 73, 74, 172, 180, 186, 187, 188, 192, (artifacts)
248-249.
D-6and D-7— 68, 74, 137.
D-8— 23, 24, 131, 135, 136.
D-9— 137, 152.
D-10— 24, 151.
D-13— 140.
D-14— 68.
D-15— 51, 53.
D-17— 53, 87, (artifacts) 237-238.
D-18— 53, 62, 87, (artifacts) 237-238.
D-19— 62.
D-20— 53, 62, 87.
D-21— 62, 87.
D-24— 151, 164.
D-25— 39.
D-27— 61.
D-28— 61, 62, 188, (artifacts) 286.
Ditches (continued)
D-29— 61, 62, 164, (artifacts) 286.
D-30— 62.
D-41 and D-42— 139.
D-54, D-55, D-56, and D-57— 25.
D-66— 62, 137, 151, 152, 164, 188.
D-74 (serpentine) — 157.
D-76— 23, 76, 150.
D-79— 120, 152.
D-80— 120.
D-82, D-83, D-85, and D-86— 2.
D-89and D-90— 11.
D-91 andD-92— 15.
D-93— 12, 13, 15.
D-94 — 12, 15.
D-95— 15.
summary — 165-166.
Dog — 10, 251. See also Bones.
Door hardware. See Hardware. ,
Drains, brick— 28, 34, 41, 44, 58, 59, 73, 74, 81, 82, 137.
Drug jars. See Jars.
Dunstan, Edgar — 147.
Dutch brick— 35, 49, 65, 86, 92, 93, 95, 135, 171. See also Artifact
tables.
Dutch ship's log — 161.
Eartnenware: agate ware — 204.
creamware — 55, 202, 204, 205.
dark-blue delftlike — 65.
Devonshire coarse-tempered — 12, 13, 41, 52, 55, 63, 65,
66, 92, 116, 117, 123, 127, 179, 206.
edged— 152, 202.
English lead-glazed— 23, 32, 41, 52, 59, 79, 83, 85, 110,
123, 127, 133, 141, 147, 152, 157. 179, 206.
English plain — 206.
English slipware— 25, 65, 85, 92, 110, 147, 152, 180, 185,
206.
green-glazed — 65, 110.
Green Spring lead-glazed — 47, 206.
Indian — 206.
ironstone — 16, 123, 202.
locally made lead-glazed— 12, 13, 17, 32, 36, 39, 40, 41,
47, 52, 55, 59, 63, 67, 79, 85, 94, 106, 110, 116, 117,
121, 123, 127, 130, 131, 137, 146, 148, 151, 152, 157,
158, 165, 179-181, 206.
local slipware— 147, 148, 180, 185.
19th-century — 136.
redware — 70, 74, 202, 206.
Rockingham — 65 .
Staffordshire— 202, 204, 205.
summary — 202-206.
terra cotta — 202, 203.
Wedgwood— 202.
Whieldon— 202, 204, 205.
See also Artifact tables; Bowls; Cooking utensils; Cups;
Delftware; Faience; Jars; Jugs; Majolica; Ollas; Ovens;
Pans: milk; Pitchers; Plates; Pots; Pottery; Sgraffito.
Eberlein, Harold Donaldson — 203.
Edged ware. See Earthenware.
Edwards, Mrs. (Harrison section, churchyard burials) — 222.
Elay-Swann tract. See Tracts.
Elk— 10, 231.
Encyclopaedia or a Dictionary of the Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous
Literature — 148.
290
Escutcheon plate. See Brass; Hardware.
Evans, Clifford — 15.
Faience— 202, 204, 206, 209-210.
Farthing, F— 88, 93.
Fauna— 8, 230-232.
Features, location of — 33.
Federal Jamestown-Williamsburg-Yorktown Celebration Commission —
vi, 2, 23.
Ferry pier — 4, 5, 6, 93.
File. See Tools.
Finial. See Hardware.
Fireboxes— 66, 90, 102-109, 165.
Fire, destruction by: Ambler House — 28, 140.
church— 21, 22, 219, 220, 221, 223.
First Fort— 17.
frequency — 1 64 .
Neck of Land — 31.
Structure 1 — 35.
Structure 19—55, 57, 100.
Structure 31 and 38 — 75.
Structure 74 — 85-86.
Structure 86 — 72.
Structure 104 — 98.
Structure 106 — 100.
Structure 112—112, 116, 117, 119, 120, 148, 150.
Structure 114 — 2.
Structure 117—131, 133.
Structure 118—135, 136.
Structure 119 — 136.
Structure 128 — 150.
Third Statehouse — 25.
Travis house — 94.
See also Bacon's Rebellion.
Fireplaces— 23, 25, 31, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 49, 50, 53, 54,
57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 65, 71, 76, 81, 82, 83, 86, 87, 91, 92, 93, 102,
105, 106, 109, 115, 116, 120, 121, 129, 136, 140, 141, 142, 144,
155, 156, 165.
Fireplace tools. See Tools.
Fish— 8, 230.
Fitchett's house — 5 1 .
Flagon. See Pewter.
Flagstones. See Slate.
Flanders. See Delftware.
Flask. See Pewter.
Flint, English — 13, 50, 85. See also Artifact tables.
Flora— 8, 229.
Footscrapers. See Iron.
Force, Peter— 8, 229, 231.
Forests— 8, 9, 229.
Forges. See Industries.
Forks. See Cutlery.
Forman, Henry C— 17, 28, 36, 37, 39, 46, 47, 49, 50, 64, 65, 75, 76,
78, 79, 94, 150, 163.
Forts: Confederate — 2, 3, 6, (Travis tract) 9, 11, 12, 13, 15-17, 19, 22,
159, 163, 164, 177.
First— 2, 3, 6, 11-17, 18, 22, 145, 147, 163, 164, 165, 221.
turf— 150, 152, 157.
Fox— 10, 231.
Frame churches. See Churches.
Frame houses: first — 164.
Neck of Land — 31.
Structure 22 — 60.
Structures 71 and 77 — 84.
Frame houses (continued)
Structure 114 (?)— 2.
Structure 116—129.
Structure 118 (?)— 135.
Structure 123—139-
French military map — 31, 42, 45, 151, 164.
Friedman, H. — 229.
Frogs— 8, 230.
"Front Streete" — 164, 166.
Furnaces— 100-102, 110, 135, 136, 165.
Furniture hardware. See Brass ; Hardware.
Gait, Annie A.— 22, 219, 220, 223, 224, 225.
Gait, Mary Jeffery— 220, 222-224.
Gardens— 25, 31, 73.
Garden walks— 70, 71, 72, 188.
Garrett, Mary Winder— 22, 219, 220-222, 223, 224, 225.
Garvan, Anthony — 163, 164.
Gates, Thomas — 17, 153.
Gawler, Henry— 47, 56, 187.
Georgia (slave sales) — 162.
Gimlets. See Tools.
Gin bottles— 12, 13, 17, 25, 32, 36, 39, 41, 47, 53, 56, 59, 62, 63,
65, 68, 70, 73, 85, 91, 96, 98, 105, 106, 110, 112, 116, 117, 131,
136, 145, 148, 151, 152, 156, 157, 158, 165, (illus.) 186. See also
Artifact tables.
Ginsburg, Isaac — 230.
Glass: button — 263.
enameled — 80.
fragments— 16, 17, 39, 41, 62, 68, 72, 93, 101, 102, 105, 155,
222.
goblets— 56, 68, 71, 73, 75, 80, 93, 148, 188.
pressed — 79.
summary of imports — 165.
tumblers — -127.
20th-century white — 65.
window glass— 13, 24, 32, 41, 50, 56, 65, 79, 80, 98, 116, 123,
127, 136, 137, 141, 148, 150, 151, 155, 161, 170, 223.
wineglass fragments — 32, 148, 188.
See also Artifact tables; Beads; Bottles; Gin bottles; Seals; Wine
bottles.
Glasshouse — 98-102, 110.
Glasshouse Point— 2, 3, 31, 98, 100, 105, 151, 165.
Glassmaking. See Glasshouse; Industries.
Glebe Gut— 32.
Goblets. See Glass.
Gouges. See Tools.
Governor's house. See "Country House."
Graves. See Burials.
Gravestones. See Tombstones.
Graveyards. See Cemeteries.
Graybeard jug. See Jugs.
"Greate Road" — 22, 100, 164.
Green-glazed ware. See Earthenware.
Green Spring— 47, 100, (hoe) 175, 192, 201, 223. See also Earthen-
ware.
Gregory, George C. — 1, 6, 17, 45, 47, 50.
Grommets. See Brass ; Bronze.
Guards. See Swords.
Guildhall Museum, London — 75, 116.
Gun parts— 11, 53, 105, 157, 163, 177. See also Artifact tables; Musket.
HABS. See Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) drawings.
Hack, John T. — vi.
291
Hadley, Dyonesia — 128.
Hadley, Thomas — 128.
Ha-ha wall— 137.
Halbert. See Polearms.
Halifax point — 15.
Hallowell, A. Irving— 7, 162, 163.
Hammer. See Tools.
Hamor, Ralph— 231.
Hampton, Thomas — 51.
Hardware: brush knife — 70, 156.
building (illus.) — 169.
cabinet or chest pulls — 36.
catch — 36.
chimney-crank hook — 36.
door (illus.) — 170.
finial — 39, 40.
furniture (illus.) — 190.
hasps— 36, 39, 40, 45, 50.
hooks— 39, 40, 45, 50, 70.
keyhole escutcheon — 42.
keys— 39, 40, 50, 53, 57, 65, 72, 88, 148, 159, 224.
latch bars — 39, 40.
latches — 57.
lock bar — 148.
lock bolt — 50.
lock plate — 65.
locks— 39, 40, 50, 57, 65, 116.
lock spring — 12.
padlocks— 39, 40, 57, 65.
picture hooks — 148.
pintles— 36, 39, 40, 42, 49, 56, 148.
pothooks — 141, 142.
pulls— 57, 65.
rings (doorknockers?) — 42.
spigot cock — 68.
staples— 36, 39, 50, 57, 65.
tack— 53.
window (illus.) — 170.
wing nut — 45.
See also Artifact tables; Brass; Hinges; Iron; Lead; Nails;
Spikes.
Hariot, Thomas — 8, 231.
Harrington, J. C— 2, 17, 36, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 89, 90, 94, 96, 98,
100, 102, 112, 137, 151, 210, 285.
Harris, John — 75.
Harrison section (churchyard burials) — 222.
Hartwell, Henry— 47, 70, 166, 180, 182, 186, 187.
Hartwell House — 73.
Harvey, George — 128.
Harvey, John — 50.
Hasps. See Brass; Hardware.
Hatch, Charles E., Jr.— 2, 31, 45, 75.
Hatchets. See Tools.
Hawes, Nicholas — 231.
Hayes' Creek Mound — 216.
Hening, William Waller— 23.
Hinges: brass — 39.
butterfly— 36, 87, 88.
"cock's head" — 49.
H-shaped— 36, 49, 56, 87.
pintle— 87, 116, 117.
strap— 36, 39, 40, 42, 49, 56, 65, 87, 116, 117, 148, 158.
See also Artifact tables.
Hispanic jugs. See Jugs.
Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) drawings — 33, 36, 38,
42, 44, 45, 47, 48, 53, 65, 66, 107, 108, 118, 124, 125, 126, 132,
138, 143.
Hoes. See Tools.
Holmes, Clyde E.— 5, 192.
Hooks. See Hardware.
Horse gear: bits — 176.
bosses — 176.
branding iron — 176.
currycombs — 176.
horseshoes — 176.
spurs— 32, 176, 226.
stirrups — 26, 176.
See also Artifact tables.
Hrdlicka, A.— 216.
Hudson, J. Paul— vi, vii, 2, 28, 39, 58, 102, 119, 128, 130, 161, 201.
Hume, Ivor Noel — 75.
Husking peg — 163.
Icehouse or ice pit — 119, 147-150, 165.
Indentured servants — 161, 166.
Indian artifacts: Confederate Fort fill — 12, 14, 15, 163.
found in church grave — 223.
Indian Fields Creek — 6.
Structure 19A— 57.
Structure 116—23, 130.
Structure 127 — 146.
underwater search — 17.
See also Artifact tables ; Knives ; Pottery.
Indian Fields Creek — 6.
Indian occupational zone — 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 163.
Indians: attack — 21, 164.
burials — 23, 24.
character — 166.
influence— 7, 8, 162-163.
summary of cultural borrowing — 163.
trade— 7, 106, 191.
See also Indian artifacts; Pottery.
Industries: bakery (?) — 106.
brewery, brewhouse, or distillery — 67, 102, 103, 104, 105,
106, 136, 165, 181.
foci— 67.
forges— 11, 17, 110, 112, 162, 163, 165, 177.
glassmaking — 105, 110, 165, 166.
ironmaking and smelting — 67, 165, 166.
summary — 165.
tobacco-pipe making — 145.
warehouse — 65.
See also Kilns; Pits; Taverns.
Initials: brass weight — 150.
candle snuffer — 80.
coffins — 223.
pottery (stoneware) — 148.
spoons — 189.
stamp or brand — 117, 176.
tobacco pipes — 41, 42, 53, 59, 62, 67, 79, 88, 96, 116, 117,
127, 146, 148, 151, 156, 157.
trade token — 60.
See also Seals.
Inns. See Taverns.
Insects— 10, 232.
Ireland — 164.
Iron: andiron — 79, 173.
barrel hoops— 32, 96, 102, 117, 156, 158.
292
Iron (continued)
bars — 53.
casements — 36, 49, 56, 83.
coffin plate — 225.
footscraper — 50.
fragments — 152, 156.
holder— 157.
hoops (over lime kiln) — 88, 89.
miscellaneous objects — 85, 156.
ore (bog)— 3, 110, 112.
pin — 130.
plate — 53.
ring — 155.
shoemaker's last — 92.
spearhead — 53.
stamp or brand — 117, 176.
strap — 53, 105.
trivet — 36.
See also Armor; Artifact tables; Buckles; Cooking utensils; Gun
parts; Hardware; Hinges; Horse gear; Knives; Tools; Weap-
ons.
Ironmaking. See Industries.
Ironstone. See Earthenware.
Jail— 127, 128.
"James Citty"— 2, 6, 21, 47, 51, 102, 128.
Jamestown 350th Anniversary Celebration — 161, 231.
Jamestown Visitor Center — 161.
Jarrett, John— 50.
Jars: albarellos (cylindrical) — 207-208.
delft— 36, 152, 158, 207.
drug— 152, 207.
earthenware — 100, 181, 203.
See also Artifact tables.
Jeffreys, Jeffrey — 24.
Jelks, Edward B.— 17, 50, 102, 119, 128, 130, 201-212.
Jew's-harp — 2 39.
Johnson, D. H.— 229.
Jones, T. Russell— 137, 140.
Jugs: amphora — 68, 148, 205.
bartman (bartmann, bellarmine, or graybeard) — 52, 55, 183, 204,
233, 258, 277.
delftware (Lambeth) — 93.
earthenware — 70, 117, 146, 156, 180.
Hispanic— 110, 117, (complete) 157,205.
slipware — 180.
stoneware — 25, 74, 183.
See also Artifact tables.
Knight, Mary (tombstone) — 222, 223.
Knives: bone-handled — 189.
Indian quartzite — 23, 146.
iron blade— 36, 53, 117.
iron brush — 70, 156.
race — 173.
trade — 7.
See also Artifact tables.
Knobs. See Brass.
Knowles, John — 24, ("his bridge") 150. See also Tracts.
Kocher, A. Lawrence— vi, 28, 37, 39, 54, 58, 73, 78, 102, 119, 127,
128, 130, 139.
Lachner, Ernest A. — 229, 230.
Lambeth. See Delftware.
Latches. See Hardware.
Latten. See Spoons.
Lawrence, Richard — 57.
Lead: bale clips or seals — 53, 84, 136, 191.
ball, pierced — 92.
calmes or cames— 50, 53, 56, 57, 65, 72, 80, 86, 88, 92, 116, 117,
123, 127, 141, 148, 151, 170, 223, 224.
candlestick (pewter?) — 224.
lump (from bottom of melting pot) — 112.
pipe fittings — 158.
runlets — 11.
sheet— 15, 159.
shot— 53, 105, 116.
tobacco pipe — 57, 192.
See also Artifact tables.
Leal, William— 22, 220, 221, 222, 224.
Leather — 153, 155, 223. See also Shoe fragments.
Lee family (Green Spring) graves — 223.
Lee, George— 127, 128.
Lee, Robert E. (birthplace) — 137.
Lenid (cranial) type — 216.
Lid, pot. See Copper.
Lightfoot, Mrs. John B.— 220, 222.
Liverpool. See Delftware.
Locks. See Brass; Hardware.
London delftware. See Delftware.
London Fire of 1666 — 75, 164.
Ludwell House— 23, 25, 26, 27, 28.
Ludwell Papers. See Virginia Historical Society Ludwell Papers.
Ludwell, Phillip— 50, 51, 127, 128, 222.
Ludwell-Statehouse group— 1, 2, 16, 17, 23, 25-28, 51, 127, 159, 165,
166, 173, 177.
Ludwell, Thomas — 50, 51.
Kemp, Richard — 51.
Kettles. See Cooking utensils.
Keyauwee- — 216.
Keys. See Hardware.
Kidder, Alfred, 2nd — vi.
Kidd, Kenneth — 106.
Kilns: brick— 80, 86, 90, 96, 97, 100, 145, (summary) 146, 147, 165,
171.
lime— 58, 67, 88-91.
pottery— 47, 66, 67, 68, 90, 91, 96, 100, 102, 110-112, 123, 151,
165.
King, Sidney E.— vi, 28, 37, 39, 54, 58, 73, 78, 102, 119, 128, 130,
139, 148.
Kingsmill, Richard — 32.
Kitchens— 31, 53, 54, 56, 73, 74, 86, 87, 115, 119, 153, 165, 182, 186.
Mcllwaine, H. R. — 128.
Majolica: chemical analysis — 205.
Hispanic— 117, 184, 204, 205, 206.
Italian— 147, 206.
Lisbon— 52, 59, 65, 68, 85, 116, 117, 184, 206.
Mexican — 206.
Portuguese — 2 04.
Spanish— 52, 67, 148.
summary — 204-2 10.
traditional — 208-209.
West Indies— 206.
See also Artifact tables; Bowls; Jugs; Plates.
Malaria— 10, 232.
Marable, George — 47, 51.
Marketplace- — 164.
293
Marshall, Charles S.— 47, 57.
Mattaponi — 2 16.
Mayflies— 10, 232.
May-Hartwell tract. See Tracts.
May, William— 70.
Meade, Bishop — 222.
Meathouse. See Smokehouse.
Metals. See Brass; Bronze; Copper; Iron; Lead; Pewter; Silver;
Spoons: latten.
Milkhouse— 31, 41, 93, 165.
Miller, Carl F.— 17, 89.
Miller, T. C— 68, 86, 93.
"Mireaux" coin — 223.
Mission 66 — v.
Monacan — (Confederacy) 216, (crania) 216.
Moone, John — 102.
Moors — 204.
Morant, G. M.— 215.
Morey, George W. — 202.
Morris, M. J. R— 106.
Morrow Mountain Point — 15.
Mortar: floor base — 26, 116, 134, 135, 144.
oyster shell— 8, 18, 21, 55, 71, 83, 92, 115, 120, 129, 133, 137,
140, 141, 144, 157, 230.
plain clay — 109, 129.
yellowish, sandy — 36, 142.
Mosquito — 10, 232.
Moxon, Joseph — 57.
Mugs — 202, 204. See also Pitchers.
Musket: ball— 136.
barrel— 106, 151, 177.
lock— 13.
See also Gun parts.
Muskrat— 9, 232.
Muzzle. See Cannon.
Nacotchtanke, cranial indices — 215-216.
Nails: coffin — 224.
handwrought— 23, 32, 36, 50, 96, 116, 117, 123, 127, 136, 137,
141, 142, 148, 151, 152, 157, 158.
L-shaped — 148.
machine-cut — 141, 142, 157.
miscellaneous— 62, 68, 72, 131, 135, 155, 223, 224.
wrought-iron — 12, 13, 39, 40, 50, 53, 56, 61, 116, 158, 161.
See also Artifact tables.
Nanticoke, cranial indices — 216.
National Lime Association — 90.
National Park Service research program at Jamestown — 1, 2.
Neck of Land— 2, 31-32.
Needles — 189.
Negro slave labor — 162, 166.
Neumann, George K. — 24, 213-216.
Newell, Jonathan — 24.
New England — 1, 164.
"New Towne"— 62, 102, 112, 121, 145, 147.
Nicholson, Francis— 141, 142, 187.
Nicholson, George — 128.
Nicholson, Robert — 128.
North Carolina Department of Archives and History — 15.
North Carolina, University of — 15.
North Devon earthenware. See Earthenware: Devonshire.
North Devonshire sgraffito. See Sgraffito.
Nuts— 163, 229.
Oats, wild— 8, 229, 231.
Ollas — 65, 66, 148, 204. See also Artifact tables; Jugs: amphora.
Opecancanough — 2 1 .
Orchard Run— 2, 3, 6, 17, 42, 67, 68, 70, 74, 140, 145, 147, 163, 164,
165.
Osteomyelitis — 23, 24.
Oswald, Adrian— 116, 210.
Outbuildings — 28, 31, 93, 115, 121, 165. See also Icehouse; Kitchens;
Milkhouse; Powderhouse; Smokehouse.
Ovens — 41, 49, 53, 57, 58, 71, (complete earthenware) 74, 86, 106.
Oysters — 8, 230.
Oyster shells, use of. See Mortar; Plaster.
Padlocks. See Hardware.
Page tract. See Tracts.
Pans: brass — 7.
milk (North Devon earthenware) — 92.
See also Artifact tables.
Pantiles. See Tiles.
Pargetry. See Plaster: ornamental.
Parris, Fred P.— 33, 36, 42, 45, 65, 66, 88, 92, 93.
Passmore Creek — 3, 9.
Peterson, Charles E. — 6.
Pewter: basin — 46.
candlestick (lead?) — 224.
Copeland spoon — 59, 189.
flagon — 53.
flask neck— 93, 192.
spoon bowl — 93.
spoon handle — 57, 93.
See also Artifact tables.
Phipps, John — 24.
Pig. See Bones.
Pigeon — 231. See also Bones.
Pig pen — 31.
Pile driver. See Weights.
Pine— 8, 9, 229.
Pins: brass— 23, 71, 93, 117, 127.
bronze — 23, 155.
copper — 152.
iron — 130.
miscellaneous — 116, 189.
modern steel — 131.
See also Artifact tables.
Pintles. See Hardware.
Pioneer investigators at Jamestown — 1.
Pipe fittings. See Lead.
Pipes, tobacco: brown (local) — 12, 13, 32, 44, 50, 52, 53, 55, 62, 65,
67, 68, 70, 79, 80, 90, 92, 93, 94, 96, 100, 116, 127,
139, 145, 146, 147, 148, 155, 157, 158.
decorated — 45, 53, 67, 68, 79, 96, 105, 146, 148, 151,
152.
found in burial — 24.
lead— 57, 192.
miscellaneous— 41, 42, 46, 51, 56, 71, 82, 86, 93, 105,
112, 121, 152, 153, 224, 225.
summary of dating — 210-212.
white— 12, 13, 23, 32, 44, 50, 52, 53, 55, 62, 65, 67,
68, 70, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94,
96, 100, 116, 117, 123, 127, 131, 133, 135, 136, 139,
141, 148, 152, 155, 156, 157, 158.
Yorktown — 210.
See also Artifact tables; Initials.
Piscataway Fort, cranial indices — 215-216.
294
Pitch and Tar Swamp— 2, 3, 9, 25, 33, 34, 36, 47, 51, 67, 102, 112,
150, 152, 153, 165, 166.
Pitchers: earthenware — 70, 147, 203.
sgraffito — 182.
See also Artifact tables.
Pitchfork. See Tools.
Pits: cooling — 26, 83, (square recess) 137.
metal-working or smelting — 67, 110, 165.
See also Refuse pits.
Plantation economy — 161, 162, 163, 164, 166.
Plaster: cornice molding — 127.
lath-marked— 36, 72, 83, 116, 117, 127.
ornamental or pargetry— 75, 76, 78, 79, 80, 83, 92, 116, (lion
head) 117, 127, (illus.) 172.
use of oyster shells — 8, 230.
wall— 21, 49, 78, 79, 115, 120, 134, 141, 142, 144.
See also Artifact tables.
Plates: delft— 36, 207.
earthenware — 5 2 .
majolica — 184.
sgraffito — 152, 182.
See also Artifact tables.
Plymouth — 163.
Pocahontas — 223.
Polearms — (attachment strips) 112, 158, 177. See also Artifact tables.
Polychrome, English. See Delftware.
Porcelain: china or chinaware — 202.
Chinese— 12, 23, 25, 65, 85, 105, 106, 110, 116, 117, 123,
131, 136, 185, 206.
English— 131.
Japanese — 206.
Korean — 206.
summary — 202-204.
See also Artifact tables; Cups.
Porches— 25, 33, 112, 114, 117, 128, 140, 141, 142, 144.
Porringers. See Dishes.
Portico. See Porches.
Pots: crucibles— 101, 105, 110, 151.
delftware — 96.
earthenware — 32, 41, 91, 93, (complete) 133, 146, (complete)
148, 153, 155, 179.
slipware — 180.
3-legged— 17, 93, 179, 180.
See also Artifact tables.
Pott and Knowles tract. See Tracts.
Pottery: Chickahominy series — 15.
Confederate occupation — 16.
Indian— 7, 14, 15, 163, 206.
summary of domestic and imported — 165.
"Woodland" — 7, 163.
See also Ceramics.
Pott, John— 24, 25.
Powderhouse — 121, 147.
Powell, B. Bruce— 128.
Powhatan — 162.
Powhatan Confederacy — 6, 162, 215.
Powhatan Creek — 3.
Powhatan tribes — 216.
Proctor, Stephen — 24.
Proton magnetometer — 166.
Pulls. See Hardware.
Pumpkins— 163, 229.
Purchas, Samuel — 231.
Quartzite — 130, 146.
Rackham, Bernard — 203.
Randolf, Henry— 50.
Rat, brown — 8, 231.
Ratcliffe Highway — 116.
Ravenscroft wares — 188.
Redcedar— 8, 229.
Redware. See Earthenware.
Refuse areas — 23, 32, 87, 130. See also Refuse pits.
Refuse pits: RP-1— 100, 105, 109, 110, 112, (artifacts) 150-151, 178,
185, 210, (artifacts) 233-285.
RP-2— 136, (artifacts) 151-152,210.
RP-3 and RP-4— 152.
RP-5— 62, (artifacts) 152, 210.
Relic House (APVA) — 11, 27.
Republic Steel Corporation — 106.
Richmond Times Dispatch — 94.
Riprap— 3, 4, 5, 51, 92.
Roads: Road 1— ("Greate") 100, 164.
Road 2—164.
Road 3—28, 95, 192.
Road 4—28.
Road 5—151.
See also "Back Streete"; "Front Streete" ; "Greate Road"; Tour
Road.
Roberts, Col. H. K.— vi.
Robinet. See Cannon.
Rockingham. See Earthenware.
Rogers, John — 116.
Rolfe Highway— 32.
Rolfe, John— 8, 230.
Roofing materials. See Slate: roofing; Tiles: flat, pantiles, and roofing.
Rosegill— 75.
Row houses: Ludwell-Statehouse group — 25-28, 164.
Structure 17 (so-called First Statehouse) — 45-51, 164.
Structure 112—112-121, 164.
Structure 115—121-129.
Royal Ontario Museum — 106.
Rudd, Velva— 229.
Saber. See Swords.
Sail church. See Churches.
St. Simon — 137.
Sassafras— 163, 229.
Saucers. See Dishes.
Saws. See Tools.
Schultz, L. P.— 230.
Scissors— 7, 26, 68, 117, 189.
Scribers. See Tools.
Scythe. See Tools.
Seals: bale— 53, 84, 136, 191.
bottle— 47, 53, 56, 72-73, 75, 79, 141, 144, 186, 187.
goblet — 71.
wineglass — 188.
See also Artifact tables: Spoons.
Seawall— 1, 3, 6, 11, 16, 17, 25, 27, 92, 159, 163, 223.
Seneca crania — 216.
Sexton's tools. See Tools.
Sgraffito: Barnstaple area — 73, 182.
English— 12, 13, 55, 65, 85, 182.
general discussion — 202, 203, 206.
Italian— 55, 66, 85, 135, 152.
Lisbon — 65, 66.
295
Sgraffito ( coni/nut J )
North Devonshire— 182, 206.
whole vessels — 74, 248.
See also Artifact tables; Candlesticks; Cups; Pitchers; Plates.
Shad— 8, 230.
Sheds— 31, 58, 136.
Sheep. See Bones.
Sherwood, William— 24, 57, 75, 76, 79, 128, 173. See also Tracts.
Shiner, Joel L.— 11-17, 23, 28, 159.
Shoe fragments— 156, 157, 158, (illus.) 223.
Shoemaker's last. See Iron.
Shot. See Lead.
Shovels. See Tools.
Silver: button — 57.
thimble — 150.
tinsel— 224.
token — 53.
See also Spoons.
Skeletons: churchyard— 221, 223, 224-225.
Indian burial— 23, 24, 213.
Skillet. See Cooking utensils: brass.
Slate: English— 13, 50, 57.
flagstones— 90, 115, 120, 240.
fragments — 85, 156, 171.
roofing— 35, 36, 40, 50, 68, 78, 90, 116, 117, 127, 131, 136, 137,
141.
See also Artifact tables.
Slipwares. See Earthenware.
Smelting. See Industries: ironmaking.
Smith, John— 8, 14, (monument) 15, 17, 106, 163, 230.
Smith's Fort Plantation — 37.
Smithsonian Institution — vi, 201, 229.
Smith, William H.— 219.
Smokehouse — 31, 41, 93, (meathouse) 121, 165.
Snakes— 8, 2 30, 231.
Society of Colonial Dames — 18, 21.
South, Stanley — 15.
Southwark. See Delftware.
Southwark Parish, Surry — 21.
Sowerby, Thomas — 47.
Spades. See Tools.
Speck, Frank G. — 216.
Spigots. See Brass; Hardware.
Spikes: handwrought— 32, 148, 152, 158.
iron— 16, 36, 39, 40, 50, 53, 56, 65, 116, 145, 158, 168.
machine-cut — 1 36.
See also Artifact tables.
Spoons: brass— 13, 53, 57, 75, 79, 80, 141.
Confederate occupation — 16.
Copeland— 59, 189.
initialed — 189-
latten— 189, 253.
seal end — 79, 189.
seal handle — 189.
silver — 57, 189.
trifid— 189.
See also Artifact tables ; Pewter.
Spring. See Hardware: lock spring.
Spurs. See Brass; Horse gear.
Squanto — 163.
Squash— 163, 229.
Staffordshire. See Earthenware; Stoneware.
Stairways— 28, 34, 35, 39, 49, 5.3, 81, 82, 94, 121, 129, 133, 134, 137,
140, 141, 142, 144.
Stamp. See Horse gear: branding iron; Iron.
Starving Time (1609-10)— 8, 23, 28, 165, 230.
Statehouses: First— 6, 45-51, 98, 140, 157, 163, 164, 165, 166.
Second— 117, 165.
Third and Fourth— 23, 25-28, 159.
Fifth— 25.
State Land Office Patents (Richmond) — 51, 57, 166.
State Route 31—32, 35.
Stegg, Thomas — 50, 51.
Stewart, T. D— 67, 215, 216.
Stingray— 8, 230.
Stirrups. See Horse gear.
Stoneware: blue-on-gray— 32, 52, 55, 65, 85, 96, 136, 148, 152.
blue-on-white — 158.
brown — 2 3.
brown-mottled— 32, 52, 55, 65, 116, 121, 152, 158.
English gray — 65.
general discussion — 67, 202, 203, 204, 206.
German salt-glazed— 12, 13, 15, 17, 42, 50, 83, 85, 106,
116, 159, 183.
gray-mottled — 2 3.
salt-glazed utility — 25.
Staffordshire (English white salt-glazed) — 25, 52, 53, 55,
151, 202, 204, 205.
unspecified — 39, (English) 42, (thousands of sherds) 44.
See also Artifact tables ; Jugs.
Storehouse — 41.
Strachey, William— 8, 153, 211, 230, 231.
Structures: S-l— 33, (bricks) 34-35, 36, 153, 165, 170, 172, 192.
S-2 — 33, (artifacts and bricks) 35-36.
S-3— 33, 36.
S-4— 33.
S-5— 33.
S-6— 33, (artifacts and bricks) 36-40, 41, 72.
S-7 — 33, 37, (bricks) 40-41.
S-8— 33, (bricks) 40, 41, 47.
S-9, S-10, S-l 1, S-12, S-13, and S- 14— (artifacts and bricks)
40-42.
S-l 5— 33, (artifacts and bricks) 42, 173.
S-l 6— 33, 42, (artifacts and bricks) 43-45, 47, 81, 136.
S-l 7— 1, 5, 6, 33, 45-51, (artifacts) 46, (artifacts) 47,
(artifacts) 49, (artifacts) 50, (bricks) 46, (bricks) 49,
57, 96, 98, 127, 135, 136, 140, 147, 150, 164, 173, 183,
(artifacts) 233-235.
S-l 8— 33, (artifacts) 51-53, 153, 173, 186, 187, 192, (arti-
facts) 236.
S-19— 33, (bricks) 54-55, (artifacts) 55-57, 87, 154, 179,
183, 184, 189, 192, (artifacts) 237-238.
S-19A— 52, 53-57, 86, 87, 88, 153, 156, 170, 192.
S-19B— 52, 53-57, 86, 87, 100, 153, 156.
S-20— 33, 58, 60, 81.
S-2 1—6, 33, 47, (artifacts and bricks) 57-60, 61, 81, 88,
89, 179, 184, 185, 186, 191, (artifacts) 239-240.
S-22— 33, 60, (artifacts and bricks) 61-62, 286.
S-23 — 33, (artifacts and bricks) 62, 92.
S-24— 33, (artifacts) 62-63, 152, 157, 186.
S-25— 33.
S-26— 5, 6, 63, (bricks) 64-65 (artifacts) 67-68, 92, 155,
(artifacts) 244-245.
S-27— 33, (artifacts and bricks) 66-68, 80, 90, 150, (arti-
facts) 246-247.
S-28— 33, (artifacts and bricks) 67-68, (artifacts) 246-247.
S-29— 33, 150.
S-30— 28, 30, 33, 74, 76.
296
Structures (continued)
S-31 — 33, 74, 75, 76, (artifacts and bricks) 78-79, 80, 172,
173, (artifacts) 241-242.
S-32— 28, 30, 33, 74.
S-33— 33, 68, (artifacts and bricks) 70-74, 137, 180, 186,
188, (artifacts) 248-249.
S-34— 33, 68, 156, 172, 173, 180, 182, 187, 192.
S-35— 33, (bricks) 68, 155, 156, 188.
S-36— 33, 68, 69.
S-37— 33, 68, (artifacts) 70-72, 156, 172, 173, 180, 182,
187, 192.
S-38— 33, 74, (artifacts) 75, 78, 60, 180.
S-39— 33, 43, 44, 59, (bricks) 81, 82.
S-40— 33, 44, 47, 81, (bricks) 82, 83, 136, 184, (artifacts)
250-251.
S-41— 33, 42, 47, (bricks) 83, 84, 85, 86, (artifacts) 254-
255.
S-42— 33, 86, 136.
S-43— 33, (artifacts and bricks) 86, 153, 192.
S-44 — 33, 74, 75, (artifacts) 79-80, 189.
S-45— 33, 53, 54, (artifacts and bricks) 86, 87, 88, 136, 153,
154, (artifacts) 252-253.
S-46— 33, 58, 67, 88-91, (artifacts) 90, 191.
S-47— 33, 58, 67, 88-91.
S-48— 33.
S-49 — 33, 62, 91, (bricks) 92, 184, (artifacts) 243.
S-50— 33, (artifacts) 92, 93, 192.
S-51— 33, 47, (artifacts) 92-93, 136, 153, 179.
S-52— 33, (artifacts) 92-93.
S-53— 33, 74, 75, 79, 80, (artifacts) 79-80, (artifacts) 252-
253.
S-54 — 28, 33, 74, (artifacts) 80-81.
S-55— 33, 62, 91, (bricks) 92, (artifacts) 243.
S-56— 28, 33, 81, 137.
S-57— 33.
S-58— 33, 74, (artifacts) 80, 81.
S-59— 28, 33, 74, (artifacts) 80-81.
S-60— 33, (artifacts) 93, 155, 186.
S-61— 33.
S-62— 33, (artifacts) 93, 155.
S-63 — 33, (artifacts and bricks) 93, 155.
S-64— 33.
S-65— 33, 74, (artifacts) 80, (artifacts) 252-253.
S-66— 33.
S-67 — 33, (artifacts and bricks) 67-68, (artifacts and bricks)
94, (artifacts and bricks) 246-247.
S-68— 33, (artifacts) 93.
S-69— 33.
S-70— 33.
S-71— 33, 42, 47, 83, (bricks) 84, 85, 86, 91, (artifacts)
254-255.
S-72 — 33, 42, 44, 81, (artifacts and bricks) 82-83, 185, (ar-
tifacts) 250-251.
S-73— 28, 33, 74, (artifacts) 80-81.
S-74— 33, 42, 83, 84, (artifacts) 254-255.
S-75— 33.
S-76— 33, 67.
S-77— 33, 42, 83, (bricks) 84, 85, 86, 91, (artifacts) 254-
255.
S-78, S-79, S-80, S-81, and S-82— 33.
S-83— 33, 68, 69, (bricks) 70-72.
S-84 and S-85— 33, 68, 69.
S-86 — 33, 68, (bricks) 70-72, 139.
S-87— 28, 30, 33.
Structures (continued)
S-88— 33, 88, (artifacts and bricks) 90-91, 96.
S-89 and S-90— 28, 33.
S-91, S-92, and S-93— 33, 94.
S-94— 33.
S-95— 33, 94.
S-96— 33, 154.
S-97— 28, 33-
S-98— 28, 30, 33.
S-99— 28, 33, 74.
S-100— 33, 90, 91, 94, (artifacts and bricks) 95-96, (arti-
facts and bricks) 256.
S-101— 28, 33.
S-102— 33, 67, (bricks) 96, 97, 100, 171, 183.
S-103 and S-104— 33, 98.
S-105— 33, (artifacts) 98.
S-106 — 33, 98, 99, 156, (artifacts and bricks) 100, (arti-
facts and bricks) 256.
S-107, S-108, and S-109 — 33, 98, (artifacts and bricks) 101-
102.
S-110— 23, 33, 67, (artifacts and bricks) 102-109, 112, 151,
152, 177, 179, 181, (artifacts) 257.
S-lll— 33, 67, 90, 102, 105, 106, 109, 110-112, 123, 146,
150, 151, 177, 179, 181, (artifacts) 258-259.
S-112— 32, 33, 112-121, (artifacts) 116-117, (bricks) 120,
147, 148, 150, 151, 162, 165, 172, 184, (artifacts) 260-
263.
S-113 — 33, (artifacts and bricks) 121.
S-114— 2, 33.
S-115 — 25, 27, 33, 51, 121-129, (artifacts) 123, (artifacts)
127, (bricks) 129, 151, 154, 157.
S-l 16— (artifacts) 23, 33, 90, (artifacts and bricks) 129-
131, (artifacts and bricks) 264-268.
S-117— 1, 33, 131-135, (bricks) 134-135, 154, 159, (arti-
facts) 270-271.
S-118 — 33, 135, 136.
S-l 19— 33, 67, 135, (artifacts) 136, (artifacts) 272.
S-120— 33, (bricks) 86, 136.
S-121— 33, 81, (artifacts) 136, 151.
S-122 — 33, (artifacts and bricks) 137.
S-123 — 33, 58, (artifacts and bricks) 137-140, (artifacts and
and bricks) 273-274.
S-124 — 33, 140.
S-125— 21, 33, 92, 137, 139, (artifacts and bricks) 140-145,
147, 157, 187, (artifacts) 275-276.
S-126— 33, 67, 142, (bricks) 145.
S-127— 33, 53, 67, 70, 80, 86, 90, (artifacts and bricks)
145-147, (artifacts and bricks) 277.
S-128— 33, 147-150, (bricks) 150, 188, 189, 207, 210, (arti-
facts) 278-281.
S-129, S-130, S-131, and S-132— 33.
S-133— 25, 33, 75.
S-134— 33, 150.
S-135 and S-136— 33.
S-137— 2, 33.
S-138— 33, 74, 75, (artifacts) 79-80.
S-139— 33, 177.
S-140— 33.
S-141— 33, 150.
See also Architectural details; Artifact tables.
Sturgeon — 8, 230.
Surry County Clerk's Office — 47.
Swann, Thomas — 50.
Sweet Hall— 54.
297
Swords: blade fragments — 158, (saber) 158.
broadsword basket hilt — 112, 178.
cutlass— 151, 178.
fragments (found in armorer's forge pit) — 11.
guards— 13, 151, 178.
swept-hilt — 151, 158.
See also Artifact tables.
Syphilis. See Osteomyelitis.
Tableware. See Cutlery ; Dishes.
Tacks: brass— 36, 39, 40, 79, 116, 190, 222, 223.
iron — 53.
See also Artifact tables.
Talbot, Anne — 51.
Taverns— 46, 52, 53, 54, 56, (inn) 57, 87, 162, 165.
Taylor, John Harris — 51.
Taylor, Loulie L. — 222.
Tercentenary Monument — 2, 96, 98, 135.
Terra cotta. See Earthenware.
Thimbles: brass— 57, 79, 80, 93.
bronze— 75, 152, 161.
no specification — 92, 189.
silver — 150.
See also Artifact tables.
Ticks— 8, 10, 231, 232.
Tiles: brown-glazed — 65.
Dutch delftware— 79, 83, 161, 206.
fireplace (delft)— 36, 172, 208.
flat— 35, 39, 40, 50, 52, 55, 59, 61, 62, 65, 83, 85, 95, 117,
121, 123, 131, 137, 141, 148, 151, 171.
floor— 22, 36, 40, 65, 67, 68, 85, 88, 91, 95, 102, 105, 109, 112,
120, 121, 131, 226.
glaze-marked (kiln props) — 67, 91, 95, 105, 110, 123, 283.
pantiles— 35, 39, 40, 50, 52, 55, 62, 65, 85, 86, 88, 116, 117,
123, 131, 136, 158, 171.
roofing— 12, 35, 47, 50, 52, 55, 59, 61, 62, 65, 68, 71, 78, 79,
80, 83, 85, 86, 92, 93, 95, 100, 105, 106, 110, 112, 119, 121,
127, 131, 133, 137, 141, 148, 151, 156.
unspecified fragments — 93-
wall (delft)— 12, 72, 208.
See also Artifact tables.
Timber (almost total obliteration of evidence) — 51.
Toadfish— 230.
Tobacco— 7, 96, 162, 163, 166.
Tokens, trade — 53, 60.
Tombstones — 22, 94, 219, 221-222, 223, 224, 225.
Tongs. See Tools: fireplace.
Tools: adz — 156, 173.
augers — 70, 156.
axes— 15, 32, 141, 144, 151, 156, 158, 159, 162, 173, 175.
bits— 173.
chisels — 173.
file (triangular) — 32.
fireplace — 173.
gimlets — 173.
gouges — 173.
hammer — 174.
hatchets— 7, 173.
hoes— 25, 93, 141, 148, 162, 175.
pitchfork — 175.
saws — 148, 151, 173.
scribers — 174.
scythe blade — 53.
sexton's — 219, 224.
Tools (continued)
shovels — 158, 162, 173, 175.
spades — 123.
wedge — 173.
See also Artifact tables.
Tortoises — 8, 230.
Tour Road — 2.
Tracts: Beverley — 96.
Elay-Swann— 2, 17, 165.
Hartwell— 180.
Knowles — 75, 150.
May-Hartwell — 31, 68-74.
Page — 94.
Pott and Knowles— 24-25.
Sherwood — 166.
summary of — 165-166.
Travis — 9, 94.
Wyatt— 75.
Trade artifacts. See Indians: trade.
Trainer, Lee S. — 90.
Trammel. See Tools: fireplace.
Travis Graveyard — 94, 154, 156.
Travis House — 94.
Travis tombstones (Edward and Susanna) — 94.
Travis tract. See Tracts.
Trivet. See Iron.
Tubing. See Copper.
Tuletta, John — 128.
Tumblers. See Glass.
Turf fort. See Forts.
Turkey — 231. See also Bones.
Turncocks. See Brass; Hardware: spigot cock.
Turtles— 8, 230.
Tutelo— 216.
Tyler, John, Jr.— 1, 18, 19, 20, 22, 177, 219-220, 223.
Tyler, Lyon G.— 18, 28, 51, 221.
Underwater search — 16-17, 163.
U.S. Army Engineers — 159, 222.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service— 230.
U.S. Geological Survey — vi.
U.S. National Museum — 112, 230.
Utensils. See Cooking utensils; Cutlery.
"Vale, The"— 3, 165.
"Village green" — 151.
Virginia Company — 23, 161, 164.
Virginia Historical Society Ludwell Papers — 128.
Virginia, State of, 350th Anniversary Commission— vi, 2.
Walkways— 28, 30, 31, 39, 58, 60, 70, 72, 75, 81, 135, 136, 137, 140.
Warehouse — 65.
Washhouse — 81.
Watkins, C. Malcolm— vi, 47, 112, 158, 201.
Weapons. See Artifact tables; Cannon; Gun parts; Musket; Polearms;
Swords.
Wedge. See Tools.
Wedgwood. See Earthenware.
Weights: pile driver— 115, 116, 117.
stamped brass — 150.
Well-boxes. See Wine cellars.
Wells: summary — 152-153, 165.
W-l (brick-lined)— 33, 36, 153.
W-2 (brick-lined)— 33, 153.
298
Wells (continued)
W-3 (brick-lined)— 33, 51, 53, 147, (artifacts) 153.
W-4 (brick-lined)— 33, 53, 56, 87, 88, 153-155, (artifacts) 237-
238.
W-5 (brick-lined)— 33, 153, (artifacts) 155, 181.
W-6 (brick-lined)— 33, 93, 155.
W-7 (brick-lined) — 33, 93, (artifacts) 155, 186, (artifacts)
282.
W-8 (barrel)— 33, (artifacts) 155.
W-9 (barrel)— 33, 68, (artifacts) 155-156.
W-10 (barrel)— 33, 68, (artifacts) 156, 188.
W-ll (barrel)— 33, 53, 56, 87, 100, (artifacts) 156, 179, 189,
(artifacts) 237-238, 282.
W-12 (frame casing)— 33, (artifacts) 156.
W-13 (brick-lined)— 33, 68, 69, (artifacts) 156.
W-14 (barrel)— 33, (artifacts) 156.
W-15 (barrel)— 33, 147, 154, (artifacts) 156.
W-16 (brick)— 33, (artifacts) 156-157.
W-17 (dirt)— 33, 36, 153, 156.
W-18 (brick-lined)— 33, 133, 154, 159.
W-19 (brick-lined)— 33, 154, (artifacts) 157.
W-20— 33, 62, 152, 156, (artifacts) 157-158, 186, 210.
W-21 (barrel)— 33, 68, 147, 155, 156, 157, (artifacts) 158,
177, 183, 186, 193, 210.
W-22— 33, 158.
W-23— 33, 133, 158, (artifacts) 158-159.
W-24 (brick)— (barrel fragments) 15, 33, (artifacts) 159.
Wertenbaker, Thomas J. — 161.
Whieldon ware. See Earthenware.
White, John— 51, 57.
White, William— 70.
William and Mary, College of — 205.
Williamsburg— v, (Fifth Statehouse) 25, 100, 161, 166, (Colonial)
201.
William III (coin)— 127.
Wincanton. See Delfrware.
Window hardware. See Hardware.
Windows. See Glass; Iron: casements; Lead.
Wine bottles— 13, 15, 23, 25, 32, 36, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 50,
53, 55, 56, 59, 62, 65, 68, 70, 71, 73, 79, 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 98, 100,
105, 116, 117, 121, 127, 131, 133, 135, 136, 139, 140, 141, 142,
144, 150, 151, 152, 155, 156, 158, 159, (illus.) 186, 187. See also
Artifact tables; Seals.
Wine cellars— 52, 53, 82, 83, 140, 165.
Wineglasses. See Glass.
Wire — 92, 93, 116, (closure for wine bottle) 186. See also Brass.
Wirth, Conrad L.— v.
Wolves— 10, 231.
Wooden objects: dishes — 70, 156.
heel— 193.
shingle — 171.
tray or trencher — 156.
See also Barrels.
Woodhouse Inn — 57.
Woodhouse, Thomas — 50, 57.
Woodhurst, Thomas — 128.
"Woodland" pattern — 7, 163.
Woo, T. L.— 215.
Workshops— 23, 102, 103, 112, 135, 136.
Wormley, Ralph — 75, 166.
Wundes, Johannes — 151.
Wyatt tract. See Tracts.
"Yeardley House" — 2 3.
Yellow fever— 10, 232.
Yonge, Samuel H— 1, 6, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 45, 51, 98, 153,
159, 177, 219, 220.
York Peninsula— 3, 6, 10, 162, 231.
York River ossuary, cranial indices from — 216.
Yorktown — v, (pipes) 210, (1781 Campaign) 137.
Zaharov, John T— 33, 36, 153.
* US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1959 0—470356
299
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